Two Horses Friendship

There is a field, with two horses in it.



From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse.
But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.



This alone is amazing.

If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of
the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.

Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell.
It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.



As you stand and watch these two horses, you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the
blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other
horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and
looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.




Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or
because we have problems or challenges.

He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who

God places in our lives.

Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way....

Good friends are like that... you may not always see them, but you know they are always there.

Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.

And remember.....be kinder than necessary-everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly.... Leave the rest to God.

By James Gargus

The Trouble Tree Story

I hired a carpenter to help me restore an old farmhouse.
He had just finished a rough first day on the job:

a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit and now his ancient pickup refused to start.

While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence.
On arriving, he invited me to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.
When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.
Afterwards he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.
"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home.
Then in the morning I pick them up again. Funny thing is," he smiled, " when I come out in the morning to pick 'them up. There isn't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

Sometimes Things Get Broken

Heavenly Daddy,
"Sometimes things get broken,"my mother says.Yeah,right.My tractor breaks,both mowers break, and there is still stuff to do.
I curse the tractor and the mowers.A car broken as I try to fix it brings on more cursing.These poor dumb inademate words can't tell
anything I'm saying.And I ask for God to bring down curses on all these hunks of iron,the one object truly broken is me.The struggles and trials
that never seem to end.My spirit is broken under the weight of all the demands put on it.Whether actually put on me or self inflicted is
a matter for debate.I don't even know where to start.
Will there ever be a day with no more suffering and no more tears?I have had very few broken bones in my life.What ones I've had broken incapcitate that area
of your area of your of body.A spirit broken incapactates every fiber of your being.Am I beyond fixing?God,I've failed sometimes as a son I should be left for dead.
How do I deal a world that can't be trusted?Self interest has been put first.These weight of doubt bring me to the point of losing hope.Hope is all I have in You.
You didn't leave me, I left you.
Time heals all wounds they say.But healing leaves scar tissue that builds around my heart.It builds walls between you and
I.So easy to walk away,not so easy to stay.
In my brokeness all I can do is crawl to a place I felt safe as a child.In my father's arms.It was the place of my refuge.As I lay down to sleep with my heavy heart,may I be silent enough
to hear the unspoken words that You are near.Take the broken pieces while I sleep and let me love again.Tears,where have you gone from me?
Amen.

Judge Gently

Pray, don't find fault with the man who limps> Or stumbles along the road.> Unless you have worn the shoes he wears> Or struggled beneath his load.> > There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt> Though hidden away from view.> Or the burden he bears placed on your back> Might cause you to stumble too.> > Don't sneer at the man who's down today> Unless you have felt the blow> That caused his fall or felt the shame> That only the fallen know.> > You may be strong but still the blows> That was his if dealt to you> In the selfsame way, at the selfsame time> Might cause you to stagger too.> > Don't be too harsh with the man who sins> Or pelt him with word or stone> Unless you are sure - yea, doubly sure> That you have no sins of your own.> > For you know, perhaps,> If the tempter's voice should whisper as soft to you> As it did to him when he went astray> It might cause you to falter too.> >