How To Love A Pig

I knew there would be tears and I had been preparing myself emotionally to comfort her the day she would have to say goodbye.  How is it that a relationship could develop within a three and a half month period of time between a 16 year old girl and (of all things!) a pig that could cause your heart to break?

It all started back in October when Hannah drew number four out of 100 FFA students in the school district to select her pig.  She was nervous and wanted to select one with good coloring, great body structure, and well - one that would prove to be a champion.  She picked a 50 pound, black and white Hampshire pig she named Paisley. 

The first day I met Paisley I said, "Hannah, please do not get attached."  Her response was, "Mom, I will give her the best life possible while I have her and that is all that matters."  I accepted that and kept a distance for quite a while. Until that weekend when Hannah was out of town and I had no choice but to be on pig duty.  What seemed like a pig who grunted and charged at me most of the time became putty in my hands when I bathed her and rubbed her skin down with skin softener.  All it took was for her to roll over on her back for me to rub her belly like a dog and it was instant love  - right or wrong.

If you had told me the day my "girlie girl" was born that she would be raising a pig in her lifetime, I would have laughed out loud and never believed it.  However, I'm so glad it was part of God's plan for her and in spite of the sadness in saying goodbye to her pig, she will remember Paisley fondly as a part of her sophomore year in high school. 

While it's difficult to compare the two, the heartbreak of loving a pig for a short time and losing it to the fate of the agricultural process is similar to loving people.  The only difference is -- a pig doesn't intentionally hurt you in its life span to eventually become bacon.  However, whether you invest and open your heart and soul up to people for a short period of time or a long period of time  - sometimes  they will hurt you more than you ever imagined. Does that mean we shouldn't love either one of them?

Most of the time children are to learn from their parents, but I learned something from my Hannah in her relationship with a pig.  ALWAYS love unconditionally and love with all your heart - in spite of the hurt that may come.  Enjoy the journey.

Paisley won first in class at the progress show and then on her final weigh in at 241 pounds, placed third in her class at the Humble ISD livestock show.  This pig, tagged #240 had a huge impact on the hearts of our family - even if it was for a short time.

How to love a pig.  One feeding, one bath, and one belly rub at a time. 

 

Humble ISD Livestock Show

3rd Place Ribbon!