Taking Care of Stormin’ Norman

by Merle Poirier

Sometimes we learn the best lessons not from people, but from animals. Let me share a special story that happened this past spring just at the time when baby animals are being born.

Let’s visit a farm in Vermont where the snow is disappearing. The grass is turning green and the birds are singing. On the farm several animals are giving birth to babies. Buttercup is a Scottish Highlander. She’s probably not like the cows you usually see in nearby fields. She has large horns, long hair, and the bangs on her forehead come down over her eyes. 

Buttercup was going to have a baby, but no one was sure when, only that it was soon. One morning in May, the farmer's family went into the barn to begin their morning chores. Buttercup was missing! Where could she be?

It didn’t take long to find her. She was in the woods, but she wasn’t alone. At her feet was a little baby bull calf, still wet from being born. They named him Stormin’ Norman and were so excited he was here.  

Animal babies are different from human babies. Human babies have to be held, rocked, and fed for months before they can even think about sitting up or walking. But the next day Stormin’ Norman was already standing, walking, and leaping about. 

The farm family needed to go on a short trip to the store. First, they checked on all their animals to be sure they were safe. They particularly made sure that Buttercup and Norman were together and safe before they left. 

When they pulled back into their driveway a little less than an hour later Buttercup was standing by the fence bellowing as loud as she could. The family knew something was wrong. They could tell because of the sounds Buttercup was making, but they also couldn’t see her baby anywhere. Where was Stormin’ Norman?

Buttercup seemed to know they were there to help. She seemed to know if she stood at the fence near the driveway, she would be seen and heard. As the farm family came close, she began to walk toward the back of the property. The family realized she was taking them somewhere, so they followed her. Sure enough. When they got to the back fence, there was Stormin’ Norman wedged halfway under the fence. Apparently, he thought he’d like to visit the other side of the fence, but soon learned what fences were for—the hard way. He was stuck.

The farmer pulled the baby calf inside the fence. Buttercup immediately led him away from the fence before allowing him to have his breakfast. She knew that he’d learned a lesson, but wanted to be sure it didn’t happen again.

It is amazing that Jesus made animals to communicate with us. He helped Buttercup to call for help to her human family when she couldn’t help her baby. And He helped Buttercup and Stormin’ Norman learn a lesson about fences. The farm family learned a lesson too. They learned that Jesus wants us to help and be kind to our animals friends.