‘Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ‘ Ephesians 4:1-3
On Sunday I picked up 2 weanling Quarter Horse foals. As I have worked with them this week, they have brought me such joy. They’ve also taught me a few things, which leads me to the topic for today’s writing. When I loaded them on the trailer they were nervous and unsure. I was taking them from what was familiar and comfortable. We drove 3 hours to a place foreign to them. They were reluctant to leave the trailer for their new home. They were frightened, anxious, unsure. They didn’t know me and couldn’t trust me. I could see and feel all of that in them. I wanted them to know that they were safe and could, but that had to be proven to them. Immediately, I wanted to pet on them, halter and lead them about. I wanted to start training them. First, however, I need to reassure them. I needed to gain their trust. I needed to bring comfort to them. I needed to make them feel secure, safe and cared for before I could expect them to perform in the manner I wished them to. This requires patience, understanding, kindness and love. If I pressured them, tried to force them, we couldn’t get there. People need the same thing. What a wonderful lesson.
The uncertain times at present have caused a great many people to feel just as these two foals. So the same lesson approach applies to them. Their feelings of being unsafe, misunderstood, frightened, mistrustful, unsure, suspicious needs to be met with patience, understanding, kindness and love. As members of the body of Christ, we need to recognize this and meet them where they are, not where we want them or think they should be. Approach with compassion, patience, understanding, kindness and love, then just watch the walls of mistrust erode away, just as it has for my foals this week.
It’s amazing what you can learn when you think you’re the one teaching. Have a blessed weekend.
In full pursuit of the greatest Trophy
