Just a little too keen to enter the world was sweet Harmony, arriving several weeks premature. As a result, she had angular limb deformities in both of her wee front legs and a slight curvature of her spine.
Harmony cried a lot after her arrival at Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary, as did the kindly human who surrendered her into our care. Wanting only the very best for the health-challenged little lamb, they put their own feelings aside as they sought only the best for Harmony.
And therein Harmony became a teacher, reminding us what truly matters most – the importance of kindness. Tenderly cradling the lamb in our arms, as one would a human baby – after all, their cries are just the same – she cried no more, as comfort, safety and trust were brought to both Harmony and us.
With Harmony’s little legs set in splints and she set in our hearts, her determined spirit and will to live was unmistakable. From physiotherapy and laser treatments to splint changes and walking exercises, we continue to ensure that this sweet little Merino, with her signature adorable monkey-like face, will walk right into hearts and minds around the globe – informing everyone that the most important things in life are not things.
Harmony too teaches us that the powerless are precious, and whilst we can overpower her kind in so many ways, and we can profit from and exploit them, we too can also choose not to. We can shower them with love, opportunities and choices (theirs, not ours) and allow them to be everything they can possibly ever be, diving deep into rich emotional and curiosity-fuelled experiences – and when we do, we reach the pinnacle of our humanity and fulfil everything we were meant to be.
And one last thing about dear Harmony is this: her name will forever serve as the greatest hint of how we should live with the animal kingdom.
You can help to create a kinder world for lambs by pledging to have a Kind Christmas today!