Patient in the Process
“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing” (James 1:4)
Winter sometimes seems to be the longest season, especially when met with difficult weather conditions. This particular year was very cold, and we had a several snowstorms that gave us drifts of over 4 feet high, often making it challenging to drive back and forth to the barn. The deep snow also made it tough to complete normal daily chores of feeding, watering, cleaning stalls, paddocks and turning horses in and out. God is faithful and we were able to make it back and forth to the barn safely as well as giving us strength and endurance to complete tasks needing to be done for the horses in our care.
Although the horse’s immediate needs were met, the winter weather made it almost impossible to ride. On the days that the temperature would be warm enough to ride, the snow and ice on the roof of the barn and indoor arena began to melt and slide off. The sound was horrific. The horses would act as if the sky were falling. Horses would spook and bolt from the loud, strange noise. Riding was not safe and out of the question. Lunging and ground work became the safest way to exercise the horses.
This seemed to work out best for my grey thoroughbred mare, Sunshine who was recovering from an injury and had been on rest since the autumn months. She needed to rehab slowly. Ground poles and cavaletti exercises were added to the lunging routine along with stretches to help strengthen and keep her attention. The vet recommended walk, trot only. It would be months before the canter was attempted. In late February I began to see the most change. Sunshine began to offer the canter after a ground pole or cavaletti. The canter was smooth balanced and was picked up with ease. As time went on, she would hold it longer and finally, when asked for the canter on the lunge line she was able to perform quietly and with confidence, most importantly without pain.
Soon the spring melt began and riding in the indoor was safe. Sunshine seemed happy to be under saddle again and offered herself with confidence in her newfound strength. The down time left her a bit unbalanced under saddle. I was frustrated that we were unable to pick up where we left off before her injury. I realized that we needed to take a step back in the training process to go forward. It is very difficult to train any horse when frustration occurs, so ending a training session early is always the best. I stepped away to pray seeking God for His wisdom in the situation.
It was in those quiet moments that God revealed to me the process was much more than about training, it was about trusting Him in the process and healing. Sunshine was unable to move forward in her training because she needed healing. The winter, though it seemed difficult, aided in that process. The deep snow made her slow down and kept her from running and reinjuring herself. It also strengthened her muscles as she walked through the deep snow each day. Lunging her gave her controlled exercise and adding stretching and gymnastics with the ground poles helped her mind. The time we spent together each day helped us to bond even more.
Expecting Sunshine to pick up where we left off before her injury was not fair. The training needed to pick up with the healing, focusing on exercises under saddle that would strengthen the weak area and move forward from there. Training is a process and sometimes there are issues that may get in the way. Sunshine’s physical issue was keeping her from moving forward in the process. Her recovery happened in the trying times of winter which not only helped her to heal but made her stronger physically and our relationship stronger as well. I needed to learn to be patient in the process.
Our walk with God is the same way at times. Trials and difficult times come our way and it is in those times when we allow God, He will show us those areas in our hearts and lives that need healing before we can move on. Once healing happens the trial becomes a time of strengthening, learning, and growing in our relationship with God as well as our relationship with others.
The book of James 1:2-4 encourages us “My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing.” Joy can be found in those difficult times as we wait on God, being patient in the process knowing His work will be perfect and complete allowing us to move forward, stronger and lacking nothing.
Understanding Grace
“For it has been by grace that you have been saved through faith -and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God- not by works so that no one can boast.” (Eph 2:8-9 NIV)
There are times when a decision for taking action needs to be made yet when considering the work and responsibility that comes with it, hesitation creeps in hoping someone else will step in. However, in my experience, the lesson and reward is far greater than the extra work and responsibility.
My son and his grandfather were fixing a roof on a house nearby. They had decided to take a break and stop at home for lunch. While they were eating lunch, my son proceeded to tell me about the terrible condition of a gray pony in someone’s backyard that they spotted from the rooftop. As the conversation continued, they mentioned how they found out from the homeowner that the pony had been there for 20 years and alone for 19 of those years and the elderly lady who owned it could no longer care for it properly. My son and his grandfather thought I should go check out the pony and rescue it. I had agreed to check into the pony’s situation but was reluctant to rescue myself, knowing this pony was going to need a lot of attention, feed and training which all took time and money, that I didn’t have, not to mention, we didn’t need a pony for our therapeutic program. My plan was to check on the pony and call a local horse rescue.
The following day I went to meet the elderly woman and her pony. The pony was in a paddock full of weeds. She stood 13 hands, and her coat was white stained with yellow and brown manure spots crusted on her belly and legs. Her mane and tail were entangled with burdock, and she was skinny. Her ribs and hip bones were quite visible. The stall that the pony lived in at night was full of manure and the water bucket was empty and dirty. The conditions the pony lived in were very sad.
The woman was so happy to see me. She was very upset over the condition of the pony. She began to tell me how her husband loved horses and kept a couple on the farm. This pony was the last one born on the farm 20 years ago. The pony was born black and named Midnight, her coat turned gray over the years. She held onto the pony for sentimental reasons but due to her health conditions, the elderly woman was no longer able to care for the pony. A family member had promised to take care of the pony, but it was obvious the pony had been neglected. The pony was leery of people and pushy, it would take some work to bring her around. The woman was hopeful that I would take the pony in and give her a good home. How could I say no? In my heart, I knew I had to get the pony to Promised Land.
The pony had been alone for nineteen years and was never off the farm. I needed to come up with a plan to safely bring the ragged looking pony home. The recreation center for the township was between the place where the pony resided and PLEC. So, to avoid a problem with trailer loading I had decided to walk the pony to her new place of residence. Fortunately, I only had to be on a main road for a quarter mile which got me to the entrance of the rec center where it was quiet and away from traffic. The pony gladly walked with me, at times, got a bit strong in my hand trying to rush me along. She seemed excited to be on an adventure through the park. Once we reached the farm, she was greatly surprised and elated to see other horses as if she thought there was no one else like her in the world. She was stalled for the night and given hay and fresh water.
In the morning after feeding, it was decided that turning her out in the upper paddock where she could get used to grass and the interaction of the other horses would be best. The pony seemed to lack social skills and didn’t mix well with the others. In fact, she didn’t mix well with people either. It became evident that the pony was angry. Angry at people and didn’t trust at all. She was difficult to catch, and she would come running with her ears flat back and teeth bearing toward anyone who entered the paddock, even if you were coming in to give her food. She was like an abused child who was so comfortable in their abusive situation that removing them stirred up anger and aggression. The pony was vulnerable and afraid. Her violent outbursts made it very difficult to do anything to gain her trust, for days the pony lived in the paddock with the run-in shed because no one could get near her.
My heart sank as thoughts ran through my head of how much we didn’t need this pony and the problems it brought. Distraught over the whole situation, I began to pray and ask God for His wisdom and guidance concerning the pony. During morning feeding once again the pony came running aggressively toward me as I was giving her hay and grain. My Instinct was to give the food and get out of there, but the still small voice of the Lord said, “don’t move”. I stood perfectly still as the pony came charging at me with her ears flat back and barred teeth. I quietly put my hand out and she came running up to me, bumped my hand with her lips, stopped, looked at me and turned away. Her whole countenance changed as she bumped into my hand. In that quiet moment that I kept my peace the walls built on neglect and abuse had crumbled and the foundation of trust was being laid.
Each day I spent more time with the pony. She began to look forward to grooming and my company. She began to gain weight and was a lovely pony with nice movement. I began to train her, teaching her manners on the lead, lunging, longlining and eventually she accepted small riders. As she grew into trusting people, she became an important part of the therapy program as well as a great ambassador for the center at our open house, not to mention a wonderful seeing eye pony for a lesson horse that went blind.
The pony called “Midnight” was not the same. She had transformed into a wonderful pony. It was difficult for me to call her by her given name because I know she wasn’t the same and for the longest time I called her "pony” but she needed a name, one that suited her, one that would tell her story. One day while working with her I heard the still small voice again, “Grace”. Taking in Grace was not about what PLEC needed but it was about what she needed and what I needed to understand.
The name and meaning hit me like a flood. God gives us what we need: a savior, redeemer, healer and friend. One who understands us, gives us peace, shelters us and restores, all through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s not because of who we are or what we did or can do but because of who He is, and He is everything we need. It is when we receive and understand that grace poured out into us that we in return are empowered to share with others, meeting their needs and extending grace.