I’m thinking out loud today,
I stood at the front door two days ago, and staring back at me, from my neighbour’s yard was a brown doe, her neck twisted back and staring at me with those big deer eyes, she seemed to be saying “yes?”
Deer in our yards along the street is common, and with snow on the ground, they frequent yards with the evergreen bushes. Seeing deer sashay across my driveway, is normal but this deer was alone and different.
She stood there on only three legs, her right leg off the ground and sticking backward parallel to the ground.
Stunned I could see her right rear foot was missing, self amputated?
frequent visitors
Possibly it became frozen to the ground and she was forced to break her foot off to escape. I don’t know why…. but it was absent.
The deer showed no distress, merely mild interest in me, then she turned her head and resumed her chewing.
But I was surprised at my front door and the image of this contented deer would not leave my mind.
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Laying awake later, I envisioned this deer and how placidly she accepted her three legged situation. I am definitely reading into it, I know, but it’s how I felt.
I believe that nature instinctively know what people call the Serenity Prayer.
God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
It’s all about how we respond, read about the Cockroach Theory here.
“Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do”
Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever in whatever way they like. – Lao Tzu
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Dave – thanks for reading. This post was how I interpreted that beautiful doe as she calmly ate her lunch; despite her missing foot, she showed courage and acceptance.
Life and Random Thinking 
Our response is the only thing we can control, and what matters most to us
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🙏
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Thanks for this piece of Serenity writing. I’d very much love to have the Wisdom of the deer, knowing how to distinguish the one from the other …
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That’s true Dot, there have been times I asked God to tell me how long before there would be light at the end of the tunnel. Bless you
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The deer is lucky to have survived that but seems to be getting on quite well. Maybe it was attacked by a predator or got trapped in a crevasse somehow.
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The deer photos were from my yard but not the doe of my post. It did look healthy actually all considered.
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Feb. 10,2020, two feet of snow, Moose tracks all over my two 1/2 acres here in Alaska, a Miracle, considering how fast the animal life on this planet is disappearing, due to our greed……What a lonely Earth without them! You have had a blessing on your house enjoy it while you still can, Sir…..
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That serenity prayer actually seems appropriate for that deer. I guess, though, that it is now use to its situation. It’s interesting that you have so many deer in your yards.
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We see lots of wildlife in my small city, sometimes even bears. Coyotes, quail, owls, herons, ducks, hooded mergansers even.
I appreciate that you took the time to comment. Thank you
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I wish more human beings had shared a philosophy of acceptance and adaptability. Sounds like it was a really special moment.
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An excellent reminder for all of us. Thanks. 🤗
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i really appreciate the feedback as I was uncertain how some people would view this post.
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At our last house, we had a momma deer with only three legs. She had three babies, one every year we were there. She was often babysitting for other deer as well. It wasn’t unusual to see her with up to three babies at a time. She didn’t walk well, but she could run well. The longer stride seemed to play to her strengths. Thanks for the beautiful reminder of her. 🙂
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Deer in my front yard today and reading your post made me smile. thanks – Dave
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