Today it finally warmed up and it was a good day for riding the horses. Since the boys here at the Ranch had been cooped up more than usual due to all the bad weather, the idea of riding horses was especially appealing. So this morning I found myself at the barn with 6 teenage boys and 15 horses.
Among the horses was a very unhappy 6 month old colt being weaned from his mother, the mother who was whinnying loudly to her baby, and a new and very nervous thoroughbred, Bella, who was convinced that all other 14 horses were out to kill her. Add to the mix a very cantankerous miniature donkey that decided to bray especially loudly and charge at the fence just to irritate the new gal. Just to make things especially interesting we have a stallion who discovered Bella and was struck by cupid’s arrow. Love was in the air!
Now all that just covers the horses, I haven’t even mentioned the boys. That mix included two who had never been on a horse and had to go thru the horsemanship program. The other four included a mix of varying equine skills, personalities, and all the typical adolescent male mindset. The plan, which sounded good, was that my more experienced riders would do the feeding, watering, and moving horses around in preparation for us to ride after “horse school” with the new guys. It didn’t actually work as expected, to say the least.
As I attempted to teach the new boys all about horses and riding there was a hurricane of noise and activity going on around us. We finally finished the schooling session and started the process of getting everyone’s horse ready including grooming and saddling. If you can picture it, all around the tack shop we have horses tied being prepared for the ride. Now here’s the difficulty. There is one of me and there are 6 boys! That means that my name gets called by each boy more times that I can count. It goes something like this; “Ms Marsha where is a brush?” “Ms Marsha which saddle do I use?” “Ms Marsha does this look right?” Ms Marsha where is that thingy that goes on their face?” “Ms Marsha can you come here and help me?” “Ms Marsha can you show me that know one more time?” Get the picture. I am circling the tack shop trying to satisfy each request and at the same time teach the boys so that they can do it the next time.
I wish I could say that I do all this without ever getting impatient and with kindness and oozing love for these sweet boys. The truth is that after about the fiftieth time my name is called my voice starts to have a little edge to it. I start to wonder if we’re ever going to even get ready to ride, much less ride. I’m tired and we’re not even on the trail yet. Then today in the midst of all this, I started thinking about how thankful I am to serve a God that never gets tired of his name being called. Just think of how many of his creation are calling on him at any given moment. He never tires of us calling out to him. He never gets impatient with us. He, unlike me, never thinks “how many times do I have to show you.”
Thank you God that your ears are always attuned to me and ready to listen. Thank you that your hands are never too busy to hold me up. Thank you that you never grow weary of me in my imperfections. Thank you that you are using me to do your work and teaching me patience and love for your creation.
Psalm 86:5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon you.
You're so right. The "Mommy" calling is what overwhelms me some days. What an amazing God, who longs for me to call on Him MORE! Oh that I may be more like You, Father, when I hear my children calling my name!
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