Mother's Day, Mother's Grace

LMRD#869 ~ in support of care, kindness, and compassion

(Day after Mother’s Day 2022 edition):

Last week Heather and I watched in amazement as momma beaver swam upstream past us, along the base of the 2nd Chickasaw Bluff, not 20 feet away, with a baby beaver in her mouth! (something I have never before witnessed).

Momma Beaver swimming upstream with baby in her mouth

Baby Beaver shivering in the warm mud

Several hours later, as we continued paddling upstream along the base of the bluff, we had another surprise: we found baby deposited on muddy shore, near a new beaver lodge, shivering in the sun. Momma was slapping her tail nearby, ever vigilant (letting baby warm up it looked like)…. (and maybe headed back downstream to transport another baby up to the new home? The never-ending mysteries of Mother Nature!)

Heather taking photo of baby beaver. You can see the little lump-sized baby shivering in the mud, she is about the size of large sweet potato! We are sitting in our canoe, near the new beaver lodge (and beaver burrow below the sticks — a secret entrance)

Heather felt an overwhelming mothering impulse to pick baby up, dry her off, and take her home with us…. following her natural instinct to provide care & nurturing…. But prudence sobered her feelings, and we left nature (and Momma Beaver) to take her course…. After documenting the scene with some photos, and mental sketches…

Later, I was reminded again of my own frailty as a baby (and then in later years as a growing kid), and the long, selfless journey of my own mother, LouDell Waters Ruskey-Halsey — who made so many sacrifices to sustain and nurture me along (and my 7 siblings!) — much as momma beaver was doing with her baby…

Mother’s Grace:

In recent decades, me and my team of Mighty Quapaws, and all of the animals around us, have received nurturing and wise loving care from a terrific team of nurses who operate Mother’s Grace Animal Sanctuary near Brandon, MS.

In celebration of Mother’s Day 2022, we are honoring their hard work and deep compassion for creation, with a $100 donation, and also sharing this story, and photos, and original watercolors with you, our dear readers.

*And if you are able, and have any inspiration to do so, maybe you can show some love also!

Click HERE for Facebook Page. (use FB button for donation)

Or here: https://www.facebook.com/mothersgraceanimalsanctuary

Happy Mother's Day to Dr. Barbara Boss and Mother's Grace Animal Sanctuary!

Dr. Barbara Boss, Mother’s Grace Founder & Matriarch

Dear Barbara, Linda, Sandra, and all your circle of staff & supporters: You make creator happy -- you sustain and give life!

My dogs and cats have all benefitted from your high quality attention! Real Love & Care is a lot of hard work! Also, my daughter’s wild swamp bunny, and the wild raccoons we discovered on the river, and the baby beavers and those ducklings that came up to you at camp that one year as if saying, “Are you my mother?” And of course you were! You are…. everyday you exercise care, compassion, and kindness, in a world that is sadly lacking. You are an inspiration to me, and many others.

Dr. Barbara Boss, Mother’s Grace Founder & Matriarch

I just donated $100 and am sharing this post!

Click here for Facebook Page. Click on FB button for donation.

Love you gals deeply, and am ever-appreciative of all the goodness you bring to the world! (Not to mention the life-saving care you have adminstered to me personally -- and to my Mighty Quapaw crew from time to time!)

From Guidestar:

Mothers Grace Animal Sanctuary Inc

Mission

TO PROVIDE CARE AND FEEDING OF HOMELESS AND ABANDONED ANIMALS. TO OFFER THESE ANIMALS FOR ADOPTION. TO ENCOURAGE SPAYING AND NEUTERING OF ANIMALS TO DECREASE THE POPULATION OF HOMELESS AND ABANDONED ANIMALS.

Mother’s Grace Home Page:

WELCOME TO MOTHER'S GRACE
ANIMAL SANCTUARY
The mission of Mother’s Grace Animal Sanctuary is to provide sanctuary to animals who need care, living arrangement and/or treatment; to aid in the rescue of stray, abandoned or feral animals; to help stop the overpopulation of animals, to seek suitable homes for unclaimed or abandoned animals; to seek euthanasia only when deemed necessary as a humane means to end as animal’s suffering; to maintain facilities for these purposes, and to cooperate with other humane organizations. 
 
Our goal is to meet the mission of Mother’s Grace Animal Sanctuary, the specific goals are:
​
Increase the quality of life for stray, abandoned and homeless animals by caring for them; Spay and neuter animals living at Mother’s Grace Animal Sanctuary;
Seek suitable homes for stray, abandoned and homeless animals; and
Raise money for its operation through donations, appropriate fund raising and grants.