Lesson Learned

My heart matches the gray, overcast sky today. Our home is filled with a bit of sorrow. My sons rushed into the house this morning to tell me that our Broken Castor Mini Rex, Molly had babies and that they were all dead. The really horrible part is that we didn't even know she was pregnant. We didn't breed her. However, her babies from her spring litter were in with her for about 4 months until we could take them to the fair. I knew that we were pushing the limits, keeping her babies with her, but we were out of cage space. Plus we knew that we shouldn't have to worry about the bucks bothering their mother for quite awhile, since they were so young.

I feel awful. My heart is heavy. I wish I had known. I would have opened up her nest box. I would have given her as much straw as she desired and more food to sustain her body as her babies grew within her.

Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. Matthew 10:29

I find comfort in knowing that the Lord knows about these five babies. He cares for them. He knows the situation and he knows our hearts are aching for the little bunnies and their momma.

As with most things in life, we learned a lesson the hard way, through trial and error. Today my children learned again how much our animals depend on us for good care. Today we all feel the pain of failure.

But, just as the clouds part and rays of sun filter through, so will our hearts heal and we will be well equipped with knowledge should this ever happen again.