Merry Christmas!
This morning when I woke up I found the ground covered with what looked like at least a foot of snow. After my morning cup of coffee, I headed outside for a walk with Laney, my English Mastiff. We started by visiting the horses. They all greeted us at the fence. I entered the pasture and began a group message, each of us rubbing on the next. I love my horses! I ended up letting Kisses come along... I couldn't say no to those big blue eyes and persistent licking of my face (she loves my essential oils).
As we headed for the woods I was captivated by the glistening snow and deafening quiet. The peace was as heavy as a down comforter. As we headed for the bridge that crosses a small creek, I noticed that it had begun to snow. Big, fluffy, flakes drifted down and landed silently, on what just yesterday, was the muddy shore of the creek. I sat down on a big walnut log to enjoy the moment. Kisses and Laney were wondering around and sticking their noses in the snow. It brought to mind the gift of righteousness we've been given. Just like the bare ground did absolutely nothing in order to be covered with this pristine blanket, we did nothing to earn our righteousness! When we chose to believe that Jesus is the son of God, and that He shed His blood so that we could be washed white as snow, and that he took our sin upon Himself, so that we could be found not guilty, Jesus makes us righteous!. It's a part of our salvation. When God looks at us He sees us like we are covered with this pure, white, sparkling, snow. He no longer sees the dirty muddy sin of our poor, selfish choices. We reflect the Son, just like this snow does. What a gift. What an amazing exchange. All that because He wants to be in relationship with us! Christmas feels magical, but it's not magic...it's the most powerful gift ever given.
When Kisses walked up to my seat on the log, I climbed up on the trunk and up onto her back. Kisses, Laney, and I continued to meander through the woods. No bridle or saddle necessary any more. Our CONNECTION has become so solid we know how to communicate softly and clearly. She reads my body language or the direction of my turned head. I was enchanted even further by this intimate experience with my mare... we've come so far. God and I have come a long way, too. I hope that I walk in the Spirit; follow His lead; as well as Kisses follows mine. That is my goal in the coming year. For God to be able to count on me the way I have grown to count on Kisses. (I am not saying that Kisses and I don't have our trials, we really do, but we always come back into BALANCE and find our way back home. UNBRIDLED.)
