Learning about forgiveness from my 6-year-old son

I've been meaning to share this story that truly touched my heart but kept forgetting. Now another, equally beautiful (to me, his mother) happened today so I will tell you about both.

I'm biased, of course, but he has truly touched my heart. He teaching me about forgiveness!

Three weeks ago....
I needed to pull J aside to talk to him about some harsh words I overheard him saying about another person. They were said somewhat playfully but still they weren't appropriate and I really don't think he fully comprehended what he was saying. So we talked about it a little and I told him that I really didn't think he meant it. He leaned over and said, "Like sometimes when I say rude things to you, mommy, I really don't mean it. Will you forgive me?"


Today during Divine Liturgy for the Ascension of our Lord, Joseph made it quite clear he really did not want to be there. He was very cranky for the first half of the service. Early on in the service I bent over and told him that he really needed to change his attitude before he approached the chalice, that he shouldn't do so with such anger. I told him he needed to find forgiveness. Just as we were starting to say the communion prayer he came up to me and hugged me and said (with a big smile on his face), "Mommy, I forgive you." I hugged him back and said, "thank you, I forgive you too."

Quote

"Behold, you have three weapons for spiritual warfare: humility, patience, self-condemnation. With these conquer." Elder Lev of Optina

Quote I found on the Fr. Tryphon's blog, Morning Offering. He is the Abbot of the All-Merciful Saviour Monastery on Vashon Island, WA.

Prayers Please

This might seem rather silly but it is pretty serious to us.
It seems as though our goat, Butter, has milk fever. This is what I lost my goat, Firefly, to last year. It is a lack of calcium and it happens either within days of kidding or in large producing milkers. Butters been giving me over a gallon a day. I changed the way I fed the goats after I lost Firefly last year but I guess it wasn't good enough. I feel only slightly hopeful in that she isn't completely down yet (although I don't think it is far off) and I have someone on the way to help me administer a calcium drench. But I have to wait.
She isn't eating. Bad thing as it can cause her rumen to shut down and this is very dangerous.
I'm trying to figure out what God is telling me.
"Persevere, Susan."
or
"It's time to let the goats go. You have too much on your plate."

The children will be devastated if we lose her. I will feel like a complete failure!

Oh, Most Holy St. Brigid, Please pray to God for us!



UPDATE:

I just came in from the barn after spending a hour and a half with my friend who is my mentor. She was awesome! Thank you, Sherrie!
Before Sherrie arrived I was able to get Butter to drink some Molasses water (for energy). And she nibbled a leaf of alfalfa. She was up and around. By the time Sherrie arrived her eyes actually looked brighter. Last night she was very droopy. We decided that it really isn't acting like milk fever, but rather a very, very bad case of stomach ailment. On Sunday I had to give her some feed she wasn't used to be Cenex Feed Store sold me the wrong bag of feed and it was Sunday. No choice, and I actually didn't know for sure it was the wrong stuff until I went in Monday to see what the problem was with the feed.
Apparently her body didn't like it.
By the time Sherrie left Butter was eating a favorite weed of hers called Fireweed. We gave her a big dose of Pepto-Bismol, which she didn't like.
I do not think we are completely out of the woods yet. Until she starts eating alfalfa again, which is her main source of calcium, I will be very worried. She still won't eat much...but this is a start.

Glory to God. I'm feeling hopeful again. Now, I must decide what route to take for the future. This is so stressful.