A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

~Proverbs 18:24 NKJV

I couldn’t deny it. Billy got my goat.

ENCOUNTERING BILLY

“Billy,” I cried, tempting the goat with chicken feed I had in my car, “come here! Oh no! Not there!”

Despite my efforts, the Billy goat was determined to play in the road and his wives and kids with him.

FIRST STRATEGY

Let your imagination go wild here. The players are a senior woman, three-month-old kid goats, and an oversized Billy goat with impressive horns.

I was most concerned for the kids, so I tried to pick one up.

I lost…and almost got personal with Billy’s horns.

SECOND STRATEGY

Next, I tried to open the farm gate with the hopes that I could entice the goats to enter the pasture. Staring at me and offering a low growl was a dog bigger than Billy.

I lost again.

I knew I should help my neighbor. But how? I called a friend, “Do you have Sara’s* number?”

“Yes, I do, but she’s on vacation.”

“Okay. What’s her cell number?”

“I don’t know it.”

“Thanks. I’ve gotta go. Billy is about to…Argh!”

Thank God I knew how to dodge well. Or perhaps Billy was bluffing and really didn’t want to hurt me. I decided I’d not test Billy’s bluff so I left his kids to play in the road.

THIRD STRATEGY

And a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion on him.

~Luke 10:33 KJV

Sara was a hard-working single farmer. She made soap from goat’s milk.

I couldn’t bear the thought of her losing any of her goats, especially the kids, so I tossed the rest of the chicken feed into the woods adjoining Billy’s property.

Billy and his wives followed me through the briers they should have cleared. The kids, however, had no interest.

MAIN THOROUGHFARE

The road where the kids were playing was a main thoroughfare through our neighborhood. I spent the next twenty minutes slowing down cars. One car was traveling so fast I wanted to issue him a speeding ticket.

“That’s it! I’ll call the police!”

I dialed the non-emergency number.

“Yes ma’am,” I said to the dispatcher. “My neighbor’s goats are playing in the road. I’m keeping them as safe as possible, but…What’s that? You’re sending an officer? Thank you.”

THE OFFICER

When the officer arrived, he asked me to come to the side of the road. Now, Billy’s kids were out of my view. His patrol car and my Mustang were between me and them.

“Please call my neighbor Sara–on her cell phone. She’s on vacation so she doesn’t know that her Billy goat escaped and has taken the kids with him.”

“What’s the suspect’s name?”

“I just call him Billy.”

“Can you give me a description of the suspect?” The officer’s mouth turned slightly upwards, as if he were hiding a smile.

“I dunno. He’s a goat.”

“Does the suspect have a brown patch below his right shoulder?”

“I have no idea. He has big horns. I know that for sure.”

“Does the suspect have a white beard?”

“I think so.”

“Does he have five kids?”

“They were too wiggly to count.”

“And, where did you say the suspect is?”

“I put chicken scratch in those woods behind you.”

“Are you sure the suspect isn’t in the pen behind you?”

“Officer, why are you asking me these silly questions? Please just call my neighbor.”

“Ma’am, turn around. Now.”

“Whaaa?”

I couldn’t imagine why the officer would jail me over a goat. Nonetheless, I turned around, holding my hands behind me for him to cuff.

It was then that I spotted Billy.

GETTING MY GOAT

Lined up in military fashion, inside the enclosure, was Billy and his wives. His kids were frolicking between the line-up.

I could see it on Billy’s face–if a goat can laugh, he was doing so. And so was the officer.

“Sir,” I said trying to muster enough dignity to speak, “promise me you’ll call my neighbor.”

“I will, ma’am. Have a nice day.”

GOD’S GIFT OF LAUGHTER

A joyful heart is good like medicine.

~Proverbs 17:22a CSB

The officer got into his patrol car and lifted the hand mike, belly-laughing.

I slumped into my Mustang, trying to act as if being in a sports-car made me look sophisticated. It didn’t work. I drove off, embarrassed.

But, no more than a quarter mile away, I too began to belly-laugh.

Bride of Christ, laughter truly is good medicine. It’s God’s gift to us. And for me, it came through an embarrassing circumstance.

Now every time I pass by my neighbor’s farm I think about the day Billy got my goat.

Let’s laugh together. Share a funny story about helping a friend.

Beloved Jesus, thank You for great neighbors, and for your gift of laughter.

Your Bride,