One morning last year we had a knock on the door. It was our neighbor letting us know there was a coyote sleeping in our yard, and that animal control had been contacted.
The hubby and I went to our window to get a look at our uninvited guest.
There he was lying under a bush, looking as though he’d been to hell and back. We could see patches of skin where there should have been fur, and it appeared he hadn’t had much to eat in quite a while.
After a few minutes he stood up, and looked like he was about to wander off. Once on his feet, we could see how skinny he was, and that his back leg was bent and broken.
My husband called animal control again, and got an answering machine. He then called our local police station who asked him to call 911. As he was on the phone, the wounded coyote slowly began walking down our street.
We watched him (from a distance) so we could tell animal control which direction he’d been heading. Of course about two minutes later they pulled up in front of our house, and we quickly told him where we last saw the coyote… off he went to track it down.
We watched him drive around the block several times, until he eventually gave up and went on to his next job. I was sad to know that the injured and hungry animal was still wandering and lost. I was really surprised that he had enough strength to run away when he felt danger was near.
Several months later I was on our street after dropping the kids off at school. I noticed something a few houses ahead dart in front of me, and I slowed down to see what it was.
What I saw shocked me, AND brought a smile to my face. The coyote was running on his 3 good legs, looking thin and hungry… but obviously he’d found the strength to stay alive.
He was a fighter… he didn’t give up no matter how weary and beaten down life had gotten him.
Today was a rough day. The boy I was working with in class had a seizure (this is common), but it lasted a long time, then he ended up getting very sick. His mom had to come pick him up, and was worried it could have been a sign of something serious.
I was heartbroken over the whole situation, and am praying he’ll be alright. Once again I was reminded of how much the parents of these special children have to deal with.
On the days they feel like they’re only working with 1 arm and leg… and that their fur is tattered and torn… they somehow find the strength to go on and survive… no matter what life throws at them.
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Isaiah 40:29
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I, too, hope the boy will be okay.
Prayers for your student. Thank you for a moving post.
And not all strength is created equal… Glad we have access to an unfailing, infinite source.
Thanks for the great post and praying healing for the little boy too.
I think this is an amazing post, bringing together the fight for survival and strength and determination needed by animals in the wild that are not created equal and comparing to that of children who have special needs. I think that although special needs children have to have tremendous courage and spirit, the key difference between them and wild animals is that they have families and teachers like you to help them through.
Thanks for the wonderful comments and prayers. The boy is doing better, and it appears that it wasn’t a problem with his shunt.
Big praise!
God sure has you in a special place… it takes certain gifts and personalities to cope with these problems. And to know you can touch the children with a godly hand. What a blessing you are! And how neat that you could combine your two stories and make them both intensely heart-grabbing.
Thank you, Joanne. That means a lot!
Thanks for this, Bridget. I needed to see it—to gain a new compassion for the coyotes we sometimes spot out back, to gain a new perspective for myself.