HIS CREATION

TODAY: Pay special attention to God’s creatures today – listen to the birds, play with your pet. Recall these words of St. Francis of Assisi: “If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.”

God gave man the responsibility of stewardship for the earth and all beasts and living things living here. With this in mind, I will tell of His love, His stewardship, and His caring for all of these creatures.

On a cold spring morning in April, I found my young, graceful mare standing in the paddock unable to move and shaking in pain. While I waited for the veterinarian, I prepared a stall for Jazzy, mostly to keep busy, and not think about how seriously injured she might be.

The damage was very serious, a broken pelvis. I asked if I should make arrangements to put her down. But the vet said she might recover. To what extent, we would not know. It would be a long process with no clear answers. Hard work for both Jazzy and me. Our catchphrase: “It is what it is.” No clear answers.

And so it began. She would be confined to a stall for as long as it took. I was her steward, and God watched over us, for we were both His creations. I believe that God is with us every step of the way. Friends (human friends) have put Jazzy in their prayers, as have I. For a long time, God was the only one I could even speak to about her injuries.

Now I recognize the huge problems of war, world hunger, slavery, death, and other horrors that beset us. I know that there are those who would dismiss the injuries of “just a horse” as unimportant. God did not. Jazzy was and is His creature, worthy of His care and love.

It has been about seven months now, and Jazzy has improved. She can move now and is exercising a bit. She is still confined to a stall and would like to get out and play like other horses. I would like to see her well and happy like she was before the injury. Patience is not her strong suit, nor mine. But God sets His own schedule. That means hard work for both Jazzy and me.

We are not there yet, but I do believe when the night stands still and the stars are reflected in Jazzy’s eyes, she is enfolded in a softness that says to her, “Have faith little one, have faith.”

— Jill Campbell

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist