My father-in-law, D. C.—better known as “Big John” Herlong—had a… let’s just say creative approach to livestock management.
Case in point: for weeks, there was a paralyzed cow… right there in the churchyard. Not nearby. Not behind the fellowship hall. Oh no—this determined mama chose the front row seat to Easter and gave birth smack dab in front of the church.
Now we live in a “drive-through” kind of community, so word travels faster than a casserole at a funeral. The phone started ringing:
“Did y’all know there’s a dead cow in front of your church?”
Dead? No.
Parked? Absolutely.
That cow became the most talked-about church member we had.
Then came the Easter egg hunt.
Some sweet volunteer had to make the announcement:
“Children… there are NO eggs hidden by Mr. Big John’s cow… so please don’t hunt over there.”
Nothing says “He is risen” like redirecting toddlers away from a questionable patch of grass.
Big John, bless him, kept saying,
“She’ll get up. Just give her time.”
Meanwhile, that cow had claimed eminent domain over holy ground.
Easter week arrived, the flowers were blooming, the lilies were out, the cross was decorated… and that cow still hadn’t budged. Right there—front and center—like she was waiting on her own resurrection moment.
Easter morning, as usual, was a mix of sugar highs, half-eaten chocolate bunnies missing ears, brand-new outfits already wrinkled, and parents trying to maintain their salvation on the drive to church.
In the middle of it all, my little boy—buckled into his Little Tikes car seat—sweetly proclaimed,
“He has risen. He has risen indeed.”
Well, Thomas and I just melted. We gave each other that look—you know, the one that says, “We are raising a godly child.”
And then, without missing a beat, he shouted:
“LOOK! Daddy Big John’s cow!!”
Oh honey… that story is a whole leadership seminar disguised as a cow in the churchyard. 
Let’s milk it for all it’s worth:
1. Sometimes Things Look Dead… But They’re Just “Parked”
Everyone driving by assumed the worst:
“Y’all got a dead cow out front.”
In business?
People will misjudge your situation all the time—your slow season, your pivot, your pause.
Lesson:
Not everything that looks stuck is failing.
Sometimes it’s just… gathering strength to rise.
2. People Will Call You About Your “Problems”
Oh, the phone calls…
You didn’t ask for feedback—but here it comes anyway.
Lesson:
When something visible goes sideways, expect opinions. Lots of them.
Stay grounded in what you know to be true.
3. Manage the Message (Especially Around the Mess)
“Children… no eggs by Big John’s cow…”
That’s called crisis communication, Southern style.
Lesson:
When things get messy, don’t ignore it—guide people clearly and calmly.
Leadership isn’t about avoiding awkward situations… it’s about navigating them with grace (and maybe a microphone).
4. Timing Isn’t Always Yours to Control
Big John kept saying, “She’ll get up.”
And she did… but not on your schedule.
Lesson:
Growth, healing, success—they don’t always happen when you want them to.
But that doesn’t mean they’re not coming.
5. Your Brand Is Always On Display
That cow wasn’t hidden—it was front and center at the church.
Lesson:
Whatever is happening in your business—good, bad, or “parked”—people see it.
How you handle it becomes your reputation.
6. And Just When You Think Nothing’s Happening… Something Rises
That final moment? The cow standing up?
That’s your breakthrough.
That’s your comeback.
Lesson:
Stay faithful in the waiting.
Because sometimes the biggest turnaround happens when everyone else has already written the ending.
Your Signature Takeaway (because this is SO you):
When life throws a cow in your churchyard…
don’t panic
Jane’s storytelling continues to reach new audiences through both film and fiction. In Spring 2025, she appeared as a principal actor in a Christian film set to debut in May 2026—extending her impact well beyond the podium.
Jane’s journey hasn’t followed a straight line. Labeled dyslexic early on, she faced countless “you can’t” moments. Today, with faith and a sense of humor, she helps audiences turn every “NO” into a confident “NEXT,” one well-earned laugh at a time.
From tomato fields to the Miss America runway to the grand stage of Radio City Music Hall, Jane Jenkins Herlong brings grit, grace, and good humor—making her the kind of speaker audiences talk about long after the event ends.
