Lesson #6 | Take out the goat

Last lesson for this series. Not my last lesson.

This one came to me in the middle of the chemo cycles. I was on a cycle that had me receiving a chemo dose every 2 weeks. There was one bad week and one good week. And like the doctors promised, each time you get gradually worse. So I was pretty comfortable in my spiral. Oh, and you are immuno-supressed during chemo so bugs love you.

Then, on the bad week, 2 of the 3 kids got sick. Then my 3 year old got so sick that we went to hospital. I was right there with him. We got VIP treatment as they tried to care for both our needs. Things felt like they were piling up to overwhelm.

As I sat watching his little pale face after they put the IV in, I was reminded of the goat story.

A couple come to the Rabbi and say. "Rabbi, Rabbi... we have no room in our home. We have one bedroom and 3 kids". The Rabbi ponders and confidently states - "Bring the cow in". Confused, the couple goes home and dutifully complies. The week after, the couple returns and say "Rabbi, Rabbi... we have no room in our home. We have one bedroom and 3 kids and a cow". The Rabbi, now prepared says "Bring in the chooks". Not expecting this answer the couple goes home and does what they're told.

This goes on for several weeks. The dog, cat, and horse join the one bedroom. The last addition was the goat. The couple return to the Rabbi irate and dazed. "It's simply not working. There is no room!".

"Oh" Says the Rabbi. "Just take out the goat". And just like that - the couple felt they had space in their home.

Ok... there is much to unpack, not the least of which is blind compliance and why did they have a horse, but that's not my focus. As I sat and watched my toddler heal and as he left the hospital healthier, I felt like there was space. With my boy safe it felt like I had taken out the goat.

*picture credit http://www.thegoatfarm.com