Great Horse Stories by Rebecca E. Ondov

dollar.
    Cindy’s heart pounded. Oh, my! Can I really get this horse? I would love that. But what will Kim say? She looked at Amy. “I’d better call your dad.”
    Cindy sat in the truck and dialed. “You know this baby colt down here?” She paused and swallowed.
    Kim had come to the ranch to watch Amy ride. He’d fallen in love with the colt too. He’d petted him, talked to him, and fed him apple treats.
    Cindy tried to contain her excitement. “Kim, the owner wants to give him away! Well, she’ll sell him for a dollar. He needs a home. I think he’s supposed to be my horse. Is that okay?”
    Cindy hung up and turned to Amy. “He said go for it!” Cindy’s heart soared as she went up to the ranch house, paid the dollar, and was handed the bill of sale. She could hardly believe it. Here I am, 50 years old, and God gave me my dream! I have my horse!
    I remember when Cindy bought the colt for a dollar. She called me and nearly cried as she shared this miracle from God. I whooped and hollered, and then we laughed and talked about a great verse in the book of Psalms: “Take delight in the L ORD , and he will give you the desires of your heart” (37:4). I wasn’t shocked by this new addition to Cindy’s family. She and her husband, Kim, had invested hundreds of hours teaching people—including me!—through Bible studies in their home. Cindy had invested her life in her family and into doing what God wanted her to do. This was the first time in her life when she could afford a horse and have time to enjoy one. God’s timing was perfect!
    Our voices grew louder and louder as we put the pieces together that revealed God’s fingerprints. He had to make sure it rained enough that Oakley was up to her knees in mud in the corral so they’d move her. If Amy wouldn’t have moved her horse, Cindy never would have met the colt. We chuckled as we imagined God sitting in heaven dictating the order: “More rain over here. Make sure it drains into this paddock.” Then Cindy and Amy had to choose the right stable for Oakley. Could the angels have shone a glory beam of light on the ad in the Yellow Pages? And what owner wouldn’t want such a beautiful, healthy colt? God had made the baby Cindy’s dream colors too.
    Although Cindy never expected to achieve that dream, God hadn’t forgotten. He’d chosen the perfect fulfillment and had given it to her even though she was 50 years old. When we’re doing what God wants us to do, God will bless us in unexpected ways. Let’s keep looking for the fingerprints of God. We’re never too old to live our dreams!
    Lord, stir my heart. Help me remember the dreams of my youth and watch for Your blessings. Amen.
    â€¢ Thoughts to Ponder •
    Do you have any dreams you need to blow the dust off of because they’ve been buried in your heart so long? Perhaps now is a good time to sit on the porch with God and have a chat.

18
    A BLESSING THAT SNOWBALLED
    Sharing a Blessing
    V oices in the call center echoed through the room, which was as large as a gymnasium. Employees of the local phone company sat in the cubicles recruiting new business and handling customer service issues. Cindy ended a call and grinned. All she could think about was the young horse God had supernaturally given her. She’d wanted cowboy boots and a horse for as long as she could remember. She’d grown up, married, and had children…but still no horse. When Cindy turned 50, the dream of owning her own horse was covered with cobwebs.
    God unexpectedly blew off the dust and blessed her with a buckskin paint—the horse of her dreams—for only one dollar! Cindy still couldn’t believe it. Now there was only one problem. She didn’t have a clue what to name him. She leaned back in her chair and savored names in her mind. One of her coworkers leaned over from her cubicle and the two