A Horse Calmed

A boy uses his faith to calm a spirited horse instead of selling it.

By Jerry Farmer, Ann Arbor, MI

I was born and raised on a farm in a small farming community in southwestern Michigan. As a young boy, I always wanted a horse. But we didn't have any money on the farm. So, I worked hard and saved my money. When I was in junior high, I was able to go to an auction and buy a beautiful horse. Betty was a real sweetheart. But she was also spirited, really spirited. In this case, the concept, "You'd better watch out for what you wish for because you just might get it" applied.

I was concerned that I was going to have to sell Betty because she was more than I could handle. My parents thought the same thing. But it didn't make sense to me that I'd have to get rid of her, especially after I'd worked so hard and so long to get her.

That's when I started to use the Bible. I knew and loved lots of Bible stories. My parents both loved the Bible, and I had always gone to Sunday School. I thought about the story of the storm that came up when Jesus and his disciples were on the water. The disciples got scared and woke Jesus. He calmed the storm by saying, "Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm" (Mark 4:39). I really started thinking of the calmness. If a storm can be calmed, so can a horse. After Jesus calms the sea, he asks his disciples, "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? (Mark 4:40). I realized that I didn't need to fear losing my horse. I could have the faith required to calm a horse.

My next door neighbor heard about my problem with Betty. He was from Nebraska. And he got on his horse and I on mine. He had a hold of the bridle of my horse and led her up and down the road until she was ready to stop, at which point, he'd keep pulling her, tiring her out. Finally he told me, "She's going to do whatever you want her to do." And she did. Betty always acted like I was in charge and in control. And, she lost none of her spirit. We had a wonderful time together. We entered some parades around the area and we had a lot of fun. My prayers were answered.

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