From time to time people tell me, “Lighten up, it’s “just a cow.” or, “That’s a lot of money for “just a cow.” They don’t know the distance travelled, the time spent or the costs involved for “just a cow.” Some of my proudest moments have come with “just a cow”.

Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a cow,” but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a cow,” and, in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a cow” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you too, think it’s “just a cow”, then you will probably understand phrases like “just a friend”, “just a sunrise”, or “just a promise.”

“Just a cow” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a cow” brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.

Because of “just a cow”, I will rise early, stay in the barn for hours and look longingly into the future. So for me, and folks like me, it’s not “just a cow” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past and the pure enjoyment of the moment. “Just a cow” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “Just a cow”, but the thing the gives me humanity and keeps me from being

“just a human”

So the next time you hear the phrase “just a cow”, just smile… because they “just won’t understand”