Trusting the Master

A week ago our neighbor gave us a six-month-old colt. We named him Gentle Jack - “Jack” because we wanted to honor the neighbor who gave him to us, and “Gentle” as a way of positive thinking. When an animal grows up to weigh 1,200 pounds you want it to be gentle.

Our neighbor led Jack’s mother from their farm to ours and Jack followed faithfully. My husband and daughter followed along on the mile hike from the neighbor’s farm to our barn. Jack was willing to follow his mother anywhere – he didn’t need to be led with a lead rope. Out of his pasture, up the road, down our lane and into a strange barn – Jack didn’t question it.

Children are like that when they’re young… no questions asked, they hold our hand and just follow.

Jack took his cues from his mom. She trusted her master and Jack trusted her. For almost a week Jack and his mother stayed in our barn so that Jack could get acclimated to our farm. The normally timid colt adjusted to a new environment, new smells, and new people; because his mother in her quiet obedience showed him that everything was safe.

Jack has done amazingly well. While his mother stood by watching, Jack allowed us to put a halter on him, let us place a lead rope on him and walk him around the barn. In less than a week he was willing to move forward, stop and go backwards. He knew if his mother stood by calmly watching, everything must be okay.

We can learn a lot from Jack’s mother.

Our children are observing us every day. They watch us as we journey through life. They observe our relationship with our Master and how we respond to Him. Under the scrutiny of our children, our walk with God is closely observed. As God leads us down new paths and strange environments, our children watch our response and react accordingly. “Is Mom frightened?”, “Is Mom okay with these changes?”, “Is Mom fighting the Master or is she obeying Him?”

It’s not always easy, staying calm in the midst of change. The journey to our farm meant big changes for both Jack and his mother. Did she know that the journey to our farm meant Jack was going to begin his own life with a new family? Did she know he’d be staying here and she’d be going back to her farm?

Jack’s mother stayed with him for the week but then her master came to lead her back to her farm. She stood obediently while he put a lead rope around her and took her from the barn and away from her colt. She walked beside him as he led her down our quarter mile lane. Only once did she look back when she heard Jack whinny to her. She never panicked. She trusted her master. She trusted the plan he had for Jack.

God has a plan for our children. He is the Master, we have the choice to follow faithfully and trust Him that His plan is good. Our response to our Master can greatly affect our children’s response. As they grow, mature, and eventually move on to their own pastures, will we model to them that they can trust the Master?

My girls are still young. They’re still observing me very closely. I have this time in their lives to live before them the importance of following and trusting the Master. When that day comes when they move to another pasture, I want them to be prepared. I want them to listen to the Father’s leading and obey Him. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God knows the plans He has for our lives. He promises that those plans are good plans – that those plans will give us a hope and a future.

I wonder if some day when we’re riding Jack down past our neighbor’s farm, his mother will meet us at the fence and say, “Good job, son. I told you that you could trust the Master.”