We really love these ponies. We used to visit here weekly. But seasons change and we do not come as often as we would like to, but we sure are thankful when we are able to visit again.
I remember the nearly two year season the boys and I spent here. Mucking horse stalls, the boys learning how to drive a huge tractor, and giving Licorice, the brown and white pony a lot of love. Soon after April came along. Both of them so sweet, yet with their own personalities and unique struggles.
One struggle that both encountered, brought us to a season of wintry days of cold and drizzle making extra frequent visits to aide in their care of a hoof problem. They really needed some extra help. We would use duct tape and fasten bags of ice on their hooves to attack the pain and inflammation that was causing them so much discomfort. We were usually out there alone, just my two sons and I. It was a great time to learn so much, and serve. We were not only serving these ponies, and helping bring them healing. We were helping a much larger picture. I think it is super important to keep this in mind when we serve in the least of little ways. We are contributing to a larger cause. For these ponies, we were helping them so much because we just really care about God’s creation, have compassion, and love to help and serve. We were also helping the organization as a whole for the future events that would take place for other people who came along to love on these ponies, spend time with them, take them out to care centers and such, to be blessed and be a blessing to others! We were helping the owner who loves what she does, and loves these ponies and all the horses, who loves people and wants to be a beacon of hope. We were looking for an opportunity to be apart of a horse ranch, asking God to lead us, and so thankful our friend who owns this place, brought us in to be blessed so richly.
It was so hard to let go of our regular visits. But it was time. I look at these ponies today, and see them thriving! Walking in such freedom! And I know God did this! Glory to God! He took us here for this season, to serve and be blessed. He took us here to learn more than I can even write in this blog. The fruit of God’s Spirit grew in each of our hearts as we learned to deal with “attitude” issues, and loving instruction, and “discipline” (and I am talking about a pony who needed this). The boys were able to see through God’s lens how loving this way, firm and with all these gentle meek boundaries, etc, would literally redirect the heart of this pony to humble, submissive, obedience, peace. Another pony, had some severe struggles with anxiety, and we were patient, came each week, and loved on him. We would get to see quickly how his anxiety would decrease quickly with a firm loving touch, gentle spoken worlds, quoting of scripture, and many prayers, would ease him to a peaceful state. For quite some time, we would repeat this process, each time we visited.
Over time, much time it felt, he transformed into a peaceful vessel of sweetness and love, that rules and reigns. This is Jesus. This is Jesus’ love. We are thankful for Jesus. The example of God’s love. Humbly coming to us, to serve us, to clean us up, to love on us, and save us! Jesus went all the way, serving to the point of giving His life up, so that we would find life in Him. He came to save us from our sins. He came to give us good life in His love each day, and forever life with Him in eternity.
And faithful He is to be with us each day, as he sings over us with His love, reminds us of His Words to ease us in our struggles, to firmly in love, correct us and guide us into a better way, and a continual cleansing, attentive care to shaping the attitudes of our hearts, to bring Him glory.
This day, we visited with some friends. It was a beautiful afternoon. Some TLC and a walk in the sunshine for the ponies. We then trekked onward to Frenzis for some yummy frozen yogurt with our “friendsies”. Claire and Emily- who were so kind to come pick us up and take us out for an adventure together. Time well spent with special friends.
Now abide…faith, hope, love…
THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE – 1 Cor. 13
