My dear friend Debra asked me how often I was going to blog. I commented - probably every other day – that I was going to look for “grace” moments and then post in regards to those. I know it happens to you – when you least expect God to send you a message – he does – most often in loud screaming colors.
The latest burst of color happened during a phone call with son one today. He was looking for work this semester and instead he found a place to volunteer. Not exactly the best way to earn spending money but definitely a way to earn blessings. He found MANE – Montgomery Area Nontraditional Equestrians.
I am sharing the link with you at the end of this post – but in a nutshell – MANE offers people with differences the opportunity to ride horses. Son one has cleaned stalls, walked horses, broke horses and most recently been kicked by a horse. He called this week and said he had gotten kicked by one of the horses and I went in to “Mama Bear” mode (as Kerry refers to it…) and worried about his health - I won’t even list all the paths I went down! Anyway – I did not give him time to tell me much about the story but today he did….that in a moment.
At MANE the kids that ride often have limited speaking abilities, limited movement abilities – and the list goes on. I cannot imagine the training that the staff – and the horses go through to create a safe environment for these riders. Absolutely amazing…. Son one has shared that in order to get the horse to go – the riders are taught to say “Walk On”.
I asked him to tell me about the ways that he sees God’s grace in action at MANE. He shared several thoughts…how he is blessed because he has the opportunity to volunteer at MANE, how MANE blesses the families, how he is reminded of all the physical and mental abilities he has that we all many times take for granted.
But my favorite – Son one shares that when that rider says “Walk On” and the horse – walks on with the rider that for that moment – the kid that cannot walk receives the assistance to walk.
I wonder do I tell Jesus to “Walk On”? Do I allow him to be in charge for me – do I freely accept his assistance to manage my life – to manage my walking? Do I allow him to carry me much like the horse carries the rider?
Today Son one told me after he got kicked he was walking around the area just to catch his breath – he was fine but he was asked by a rider about what happened. Lance told him the story – and he said “Cowboy Up”.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. ~ 2 Corinthians 13:14.
