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.