Heaven can wait

An event that happened today really got me thinking.

OK- Heaven is supposed to be the “ultimate best.”  Right?

But today I intervened with Heaven- I “saved from Heaven.”

And it’s a good thing.

Quite the paradox and an interesting subject to ponder… if Heaven is where most of us ultimately want to be… why is it we try so hard to stay out of it for such a long time.

Hmmmm….

A friend of mine had to leave her current boarding situation and was having difficulty finding places for all of her ponies.  She asked if I could possibly help.

Her 26 year old mare is a lifelong broodmare- now retired.  She has cushings and has foundered, so she has special needs, a dry-lot, a stall, and individual turnout.

I actually have that exact setup– except for two problems

– My dog lives there

– My stallion is adjacent

I said that I didn’t know if I was comfortable with that and asked her to see what else she could come up with.  A gelding probably wouldn’t have been a problem, but I just wasn’t sure about a mare.

I did agree to take in another pony– temporarily.

I called today to check to see if she’d found a home for her old mare.

She replied, “Heaven.”

I inquired if she’d done the deed yet.  She said, “No!”

I thought about how I would feel if I were in her shoes.  Here I am upset about not being able to attend the IAFF memorial service and she’s going to have to kill one of her beloved animals because she doesn’t have a home to take it to.  I though of how my heart would break and how I know I couldn’t live with myself if that were the case.

I thought about it some more… talked to another horsey friend.  My stallion is an absolute gem.  He is such a sweetheart and I don’t want any of that to be disrupted.  Sometimes a change in herd dynamics can really throw things off.  But on the flip side- because he’s such a great well adjusted horse- he may adjust without a problem and even enjoy having a neighbor next door of the equine variety.

My friend’s old mare reminds me a lot of Ms. Squall.  Independent.  On her own terms.  Polite.  A real “lady.”

The funny thing is that after I decided that I’d extend my offer to allow her to bring her old mare, two cardinals flew by.  Like the mourning doves seem to associate with John, I think that Ms. Squall uses cardinals.

I picked up the phone and extended the offer to save the mare from Heaven.

My friend and I cried and she said she’d bring her over.  She told me that the mare wasn’t ready to be put down.  They say, “they’ll let you know when it’s time.”  Squall did.  This mare- she’s not ready yet.  As soon as she got off the trailer it was evident… she was the mare I knew…  a lady… she quietly walked into her new paddock and settled right in.

Winston puffed up and trotted around a little bit, but I don’t think he even screamed or talked to her.  I think he was glad for the companionship.

Levi and her seem to be getting along well.

Sometimes you do the right thing… sometimes you don’t.

Today, I did the right thing.

Heaven can wait for this grand mare.