In Mexico, we have a popular expression, “Agarra al toro por los cuernos” (grab the bull by the horns), which means to face problems with courage and bravery. On this occasion, there was no bull to grab, only a goat in need of assistance.
After a long day of meetings, Sister Tonette and I decided to go for a walk to clear our minds. As we crossed a field with goats, we noticed that, in the distance and separated from the herd, there were two goats. One of them was sitting down. One of the three guard dogs came out to meet us behind the fence, guiding us to where the two goats were. As we approached, we realized that the one that was sitting down had its head stuck between the bars of the fence. This rescue was going to take teamwork.
While Sister Tonette distracted the dog and tried to lift the fence, I “grabbed the goat by the horns” for the first time in my life, as I grew up in the city. The goat was terrified and was moving around a lot. After several attempts, we managed to free her. She immediately ran free, and the other two guard dogs came toward us as if to thank us. We realized that her nose was scraped, hurt, and bloody. It looked like they had tried to free her before.
These animals taught us an important lesson: solidarity, protection, and how to accompany others in difficult situations. The other goat did not leave her side until we arrived. It was a great lesson that also required courage on our part, because we were afraid that she or the other goat might bite us. However, we took the risk because they also took a risk in trusting us. What a blessing from God to remind us that care for others in need, including goats, helps us to grow more deeply into the compassionate humanity that Jesus modeled for us!
By Sister Gabriela Ramirez