{ Suffering }

Yesterday was a very sad day on our farm. Our beautiful Horse Alaska died. About three days ago she started to act funny and we thought it was because she ate her alfalfa pellets wrong. Two days ago she was just standing around in the corral, but we just thought is was from the day before and so my Dad gave her some medication. Yesterday morning we thought she was doing a bit better. Then yesterday afternoon she got worse. We called our vet and he gave us some high powered meds. Awhile after we did, she was able to walk around a bit and drink some water from a hose. Then this evening she took a turn for the worse. It was incredibly sad. I wasn’t there when she died, but my Dad, Mom and sister were. I couldn’t bear to see her in that much pain. Thankfully she didn’t have to suffer long. We still aren’t sure what she had. 

Alaska was a beautiful black Tennessee Walker. She was a very loving horse. She was 16 hands high. We called her our Black Beauty.

It was terrible to watch her yesterday. I’m just glad she isn’t in pain anymore. I’m so thankful I have a God who is close to the brokenhearted. So, where ever you are, whatever you are going through right now, know that Jesus is right there ready to comfort you. A lot of times we are surprised when we go through something hard but, in 1 Peter 4 it talks about how we shouldn’t be surprised when we go through trials, but rather we should rejoice in them when HIS glory is revealed. I don’t know about you, but I sometimes have a hard time rejoicing in my suffering and pain. Rather the opposite is true. I often have asked God aren’t you done yet? Haven’t you shown me enough? When I should be rejoicing. For me that isn’t an easy concept. Now I am not saying we can’t mourn and be sad. After all Jesus wept when he found out that His friend died and in Ecclesiastes it says there is a time to mourn. What I am trying to say is that we shouldn’t be angry at God for taking us through the valley, but we should be looking at it as an opportunity for God to be glorified and for us to grow closer to Him. I know I don’t always have this attitude. When I look at people like Clayton McDonald an 18 year old who had cancer (who I wrote about in this post) and knew he was going to die. I am amazed. When asked if he ever asks God the question why? He replied with this answer.  “Yes. Yes, I do, but not why me? Oh poor me. Why do I have to be sick? Why do you have to put this one me. Why can’t I just live my life? No, not like that. I ask God why me as in why do you bless me something like this? Why do you give me something that in the long run has changed so many lives? That’s the why I ask.”

That is probably one of the best answers I have heard to that question. 

We live in a world that is imperfect and full of sin. It will be this way until the Lord comes back. Pain and suffering are something that we will have to walk through until that day. I pray that I will learn to have an attitude like Clayton. Life does hurt, I’m just glad I have the Lord by my side every moment of every day walking with me.

I took this picture of my sister Taylor and Alaska.

That’s all for now. The 4th is a big holiday for my family and the town we live in.  There is a big Old Fashioned 4th celebration. This morning we had turtle races. Tomorrow is the parade and the fireworks, we have one of the best firework displays in our area. Hopefully we won’t get rained out. Since there isn’t anything going on here tonight my whole family is going to a concert with Sanctus Real, This Beautiful Republic and Article One. I can’t wait.

In Him, 

      ~Tressa