For me, Christmas tends to be full of spiritual reflection, as our abundant snow quiets the earth in a metaphor for rest. This calming effect has signaled a deep, emotional connection to an event that every person on a farm knows about all too well of losing an animal, pet or otherwise.
Being an elder on the land comes with the responsibility, and frankly, the honor, to lie an animal down in green pastures for the last time. This was the case for my daughter’s dog, Daisy, who was a loyal, sweet beagle. As I age, this journey becomes increasingly difficult, as the memories flood my grief-stricken eyes. For posterity, I have taken on this role because it’s really important to honor a life of service and be the comfort for one’s family, even as an emotional mess.
Daisy was laid to rest next to our family dog and Kayak companion, Riley and our indelible cat, Max, in hallowed ground at the top of the farm protected by the “Blue Cat” monument. In our way of thinking, the sacred ground casts their playful spirits over us and as my daughter puts it, “running around in the pastures of heaven”. I like the connation of comparing our grasslands to heavenly pastures.
After a prayer, we took a solemn ride around the farm to honor our dearest animals. We stopped by the “Thinking Tree” to pay homage to our matriarch Alpine goats, Cricket & Clover who taught my daughters responsibility, birthing, showmanship, milking and about enjoying abundant life.
Our makeshift memorial spots around the farm include my best cow, Tilly, my mom’s dog and fierce woodchuck hunter, Sheba, our precious Beagle, Sandy, and our various mousers, Jake, Mr. Ginger, Silver, and Phoenix. With granddaughters around, one can also expect to comfort the passing of chickens, Guinea pigs, fish and all sorts of rodents, birds and insects in the mosaic of farm life.
On this day of Daisy’s remembrance, I cry the most when I think of our farm dog Mickey. Our yellow lab mix was a stalwart for his kindness with children, loyalty, duty, playfulness and uncanny intuition to lead cows to greener pastures. He was also known in the neighborhood for retrieving various articles of clothing, as if I needed more gloves or a pink pair of sweatpants. His legendary adventures were on par with the movies, Old Yeller and Marley and Me.
My fondness and respect for Mickey led me to a Toastmasters speaking contest, going head-to-head for 7 minutes with the best, practiced, storytellers in the region. After hearing their amazing tales and nailing it, I was a bit overwhelmed. The farm boy would need a miracle to win. The contest rules are simple: You get a yellow card at the 6-minute mark and a 7-minute red card indicating your speaking time is up. The packed house heard about Mickey’s work habits around the farm, playing with the girls and the notorious snatching adventures as laughter permeated the audience.
Unfortunately, I had to tell them Mickey got hit in the road on a snowy February morning and was left barely alive by a hit and run driver. At the 6-minute mark, I told them of my struggle to carry my beloved dog through the snow and at my own hands, mercifully putting him down and digging through frozen ground, interring him back to the soil and honoring his service. The memory chokes me up even now.
Through watery eyes, I saw the red card displayed and the 2 front rows crying profusely from my emotional ride. Rules are rules and my story was 5 seconds over and I was disqualified, much to the chagrin of the Kleenex wielding spectators. The consolation prize was how a true story made other people feel and made it okay to remember their own stories and share them.
I bring up this legacy moment at Christmas because we owe it to God to remember and honor our ancestors, human or creatures. The good news of Christmas is that even when the world or our circumstances change – the message of love, hope and joy is timeless by renewing faith with the birth of God’s Son – Jesus.
“We’re all leaves, we hold on, then let go. We change shape in ways we never show. If we fall it doesn’t mean we’re through’, cause every part we shed makes space for something new” ~ Exiles of Eden
“Peace on Earth, goodwill to men”, and to the Daisys of the world.
Published in Lancaster Farming 12/22/2025 https://www.lancasterfarming.com/country-life/family/heavenly-pastures-remembering-the-love-and-service-of-animals-around-the-farm/article_a2f77388-40e8-54f9-8138-f3c544a74a54.html
The Last Paddock