Don’t avoid the stormy chapters…

With her black face beginning to turn grey, Datsun was in the prime of her life. Yet her pitiful body, with lice-riddled skin clinging tight over her bones, told another tale. And so too, did her shivering tiny baby.

“We’ve found a sheep and her baby by the side of the road. No sheep or farmhouse in sight.” These desperate words heralded our introduction to Datsun and her little Nissan.

And, hours later, we met.

Two things stood out: Datsun’s affable nature and her love for Nissan.

Datsun’s soft maternal nicker to her beloved baby, followed up by a caress of his head with her fuzzy mouth, echoed loud of her love. Oh, how she loved her little boy then, as she still does today. And it is clear that even in her perilous state, she has directed all of her energies into him.

It is indeed a miracle of love that both were able to walk out of that dark and stormy night and into kindness, warmth and good nutrition. Now familiar with all three, both Datsun and Nissan have thrived—Datsun, so much so that we have nicknamed her a thief for the many hearts she has stolen.

Datsun exudes a certain knowing—a quiet confidence that comes from the ease and comfort with which she moves amongst us. Perhaps she has lived this life before, or perhaps it’s the sage wisdom that comes with being a sheep, reminding us of the simple yet profound lessons these much-maligned animals can teach.

This mother and son duo, as they live their lives in tandem, are destined to be as popular and reliable as their namesakes. Their refusal to give up when things turned dark in their world inspires hope and showcases the rewards of resilience. They remind us to embrace those stormy chapters in our lives, to keep driving toward the light, for when we do, we can author our best stories.