Skip to main content

Mucking Stalls

As part of my duties as the farm hand for the Timothy Hill Children's Ranch on Long Island, NY, I head to the barn early every morning to feed all the critters, break the ice again in all the buckets and troughs, and always muck out the stalls. I have a couple of the boys at the Ranch that love the barn and the horses. They would spend every waking hour there with me if they could. They love the riding, but like a true horse lover they love everything about the barn. These 2 boys are some of the more wounded spirits here. We spend those early morning hours working and talking. Even though they regularly cause and get into trouble elsewhere, they never give me a minute's trouble when they are at the barn. It is truly their best therapy.

This morning they were brushing and playing with the 7 mo. old stud colt named Marshall. I was cleaning the stalls and thinking as always and it dawned on me that I was glorifying God in that lowly job! God is really using me in this of all places!

I've always known that the Almighty God always used the lowly, the unknown, the meek, the most unlikely, and the wounded to accomplish his purposes. It was never the kings, the wealthy, the prominent that He chose. We know that, but it never occurs to us that as we go about our daily duties, that it applies to us. No matter what we are called to do, or where He places us, He is using us to accomplish his purposes.

Leaving home was one of the toughest things I've ever done. I cried and I railed, I bargained and I tried to offer God other options! Like He really needs my help. But in my heart I knew that He was calling me elsewhere, and ultimately submitted and obeyed. Do I miss the farm on Old County House Rd. that I love so much? You bet! Do I miss my precious Anna Grace and Alice and Holly and her family? Absolutely! Do I miss all of you, Bible Study Fellowship, the Pegram Church family and my precious ladies' class? Without a doubt!

But as I shoveled horse manure this morning in the cold with those 2 precious boys at my side, I knew that for whatever reason and for whatever time frame God determines, I am where He wants me doing what He wants me to do. What will the outcome be? When will the seeds that are planted in the lives of these boys see fruit? How long will this season of my life be? I don't know. But that doesn't matter, God, the Father, does and I trust Him with my life and all that I have.

For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

If I'd Only Known

It seemed innocent enough.   I simply clicked on a link that a friend had posted on Facebook.   The link was about homeschooling.   Specifically, why one would be “crazy” enough to choose that option for their children?   For many reasons, the subject always interests me, but because I have a sister with nine children that she homeschools, I find it even more intriguing.   I find the whole “lots of kids, stay at home mom, homeschooling culture” fascinating.   I am in awe of these Godly parents who dedicate their lives to raising Godly children.   Yes, it fascinates me, but there is another effect that it has on me.   As I scrolled thru this site with beautiful pictures of sweet children reading under trees, working in gardens, and homes decidedly dedicated to the home school effort.   I wept.   It was totally unexpected.   I was overcome with emotion.   Now why would a sixty-year-old woman, long past chil...
1 comment
Read more

Better Than Ever

Although it sounds like an understatement, when I severely broke my ankle, it hurt.  Same thing with my wrist.  The body immediately reacts to a fractured bone.  Pain is immediate and severe.  Swelling and discoloration follow.  The bone, once whole and intact, is now damaged and misaligned.  That bone now has to be fixed and heal.   In my case both of these breaks reqired surgery complete with metal plates and screws.  The surgeries were followed by more pain, weeks in a cast, doctor's appointments to monitor the healing process, and intense physical therapy.  In addition to all that there was the annoyance and inconvenience of not being able to perform the daily tasks of living. Dependance on someone else to help with even the simplest task is not easy for me.  The good news is that now healed they tell me that those bones are stronger then ever.  Mere bone, as miraculous and complicated as it is, is now reinforced with titanium....
1 comment
Read more

Witness Protection Program

If you’ve ever watched TV you know about the witness protection program. I think it really does exist in real life, but we probably won’t ever know if any of the people that we come in contact with are in that program. Thus the reason for it. You know the deal. Someone typically has been involved in less than honorable activity. After some turn of events, which usually means that they have been caught, they agree to testify against the “big boss” in exchange for immunity and a new identity including a new location. Essentially they get a new life, a clean slate, a fresh start. It occurred to me that as a Christian my life is like being in the witness protection program with tons more benefits. We come into this world as God’s precious creation. We were created to love him and each other. He gave us his Son so that we could have access to him, forgiveness of our sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit as our helper and guide. Most of us know that but for some reason or ...
Post a Comment
Read more