God Answers Prayers

Psalm 55:22 

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Last Tuesday was an especially difficult day for me. I had been gone for basically ten days with my mom and when I got to the barn, the work in front of me was huge. I was overwhelmed. Life itself, in that moment, was overwhelming.

 I cried out for help. I prayed for a way to keep my ministry of horse therapy going; because, in that moment I didn’t see how I could continue. Too much was falling on my plate and I just didn’t see how I was going to be able to do all that was required of me. 

I was exhausted and had horrible back pain and I hadn’t done any work with the horses. I was just cleaning poop and raking leaves and limbs. By the time I finished doing that, I physically couldn’t groom or work with the horses. Thankfully, Katie and Dylan agreed to come take care of them for me. 

I started this ministry as a path that I believe God put me on to serve others for Him. I prayed Tuesday that He would help me find a way to keep going. Surely, Minis 2 Love couldn’t be done yet; or, could it? 

I had to find help. Who could I call? I messaged a young girl, who comes out to the barn almost every day with her mom, to see if she’d be interested in a small paying job helping me with the cleaning. She agreed! Her help is going to allow more time for me with the horses. 

Another issue I was dealing with Tuesday was that I had a therapy visit with one of our treasured nursing homes coming up Thursday and didn’t have anyone to go with me as a second. I could have made it to some of our small facilities on my own but this was too big of a task. What was I going to do?! Driving home, I thought I’d reach out to a dear friend who had volunteered at the barn a couple of times to see if she could possibly go with me. She said, “Yes!”

Wednesday, on our visit to Azalealand Nursing Home, Penny, Huck, and I met Summer, a young woman, working there. She had an instant love connection with Huck! As we talked, we found out that she had tragically lost her husband a few short weeks before. Because she felt this instant connection to Huck, I invited her out to the barn for some personal horse therapy. I gave her one of our cards and was determined to follow up with her. I did and she was at the barn yesterday. 

Friday of the same week a dilemma that Katie and I had been struggling with was solved in the most beautiful and perfect way ever. Katie knew she’d never sell Cloud but he needed someone to work with him and keep him active. A barn friend approached Katie to ask about his disposition and to see if her daughter could give him a test ride. Katie enthusiastically agreed. If you could have the seen the smile on this ten year old little girl’s face when Katie handed her the lead rope to walk him out of the pasture, you’d have cried right along with her mother and me. The smile never left her face while she groomed him, saddled him up, and the was able to mount him successfully on first effort! She rode around the arena and driveways with the same smile. Needless to say, she is now leasing Cloud. Katie as owner can still put her nephews on him when they come to town. It’s the best for Cloud and all involved.

Just after this happened, I received a text message from my friend and volunteer Lisa that Tuesday would be her last day working her long term sub position and she couldn’t wait to get back to working with the minis and our visits! 

I love you all and appreciate your support more than you will ever know.

God is good every day. God answered prayers when fervently asked. Sometimes the answer is no and we have to accept it. Sometimes it’s a big “yes”. My prayers for the continuation of the ministry of Minis 2 Love to brings comfort, smiles and even a moment of peace and joy was answered. We’ll continue our work glorifying God as we move forward for allowing us the opportunity to serve Him and his people this way.