"Dunny"

Old pony had his head down,

Looked like he was spent,

Couldn’t help but notice,

That’s how the day’s end went.

And while we drank our coffee,

I asked about the horse,

Never meant to buy him,

Just caught my eye of course.

Seems he’d been a rescue,

Someone ran through the sale,

He was all bones and skinny,

With a chewed off mane and tail.

But my friend had compassion,

And lots of grass at home,

So he bought old Dunny,

And turned him out to roam.

And in just a couple months,

After he put on weight,

Started to look much better,

And one day at the gate,

They threw a saddle on him,

Looked like he came to life,

When they rode through the cattle,

He cut sharp as a knife.

Turns out he was a cuttin’ horse,

Ranch gelding with a mind,

Nobody knew how old he was,

The vet aged him at nine.

But best of all old Dunny,

Was gentle as could be,

You could set a kid up on him,

And he’d baby-sit for free.

I thought about my grandkids,

Stuck to a hand-held game,

Always on the inside,

Considered that a shame.

I knew their situation,

I knew they’d never learn,

Unless I could get them a horse,

And that was my concern.

Never argued with the price he asked,

And never mind the cost,

‘Cause when it’s ‘bout the grandkids,

All common sense is lost.

And, yes, it’s been a pleasure,

To see that old horse do,

Everything we ask him,

The grandkids love him, too.

They say that if you own one,

Or maybe two or three,

In your whole, long lifetime,

That turn out just to be,

A pleasure and a blessing,

For you and for your kin,

Give the Lord thanksgiving,

For God has blessed you then.

“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires…” (Ps. 37:4, NLT)

They say we should be careful what we wish for. I understand why they say it. But the Psalmist puts a better spin on our wishes. He says that if we delight in the Lord, we will receive from the Lord our heart’s desires. I am not afraid of this promise. Some seem to be. They think that we will use it to justify wanting or getting something to satisfy our selfishness. I guess that’s possible. But I believe that if we truly love Jesus and make the Kingdom of God our first priority, it means we surrender all our desires to the Lord. We are willing to let go of everything we want, and put it all in His hands. If a desire then persists, maybe it’s something the Lord wants us to have and, in due time, He will give it to us. But our peace and contentment never depends upon that, but on our relationship with the Lord. That’s what is meant at the end of the poem. Give thanks to the Lord if He has given you something that you enjoy and always wanted, whether it’s a horse or anything else. God is good, and all the time. Delighting in Him positions us to receive every blessing, according to His will. Amen.

Lord, help us to delight in You, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Don Weller, donweller.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Don, and God bless you.