Despite my best efforts, Lyle soon followed his brother to the grave. This time Sara and I held our own
little funeral for them, topped by flowering plants which she dug up and transferred as carefully as a
three-year-old can. A friend who has turkeys thinks ours succumbed to Blackhead Disease, carried by
earthworms, which often kills within 24 hours. And I always thought earthworms were good to have
around.
In the weeks since we lost Lyle and Larry, we also rescued a mama hen and her babies from a young
possum we found dining off our little black chicks roosting near the garden. Then, with the help of our
dear friend Ms. Mary, we fought for the life of our little doeling, Lila, whose upset tummy from trying
out pokeweed led to a bout with parasites. A friend wrote me today, parasites will always be with us.
Little Sara reminds me, in the new heaven and earth there will be no sadness nor death—with lots of
animals, but no nasty ones!! Come quickly, Lord Jesus, come!