My Redeemer Lives
Posted: Thursday, November 03, 2011
by Krista Aman-Widgren
Gospelflier
It was such a beautiful, crisp fall day. The sun shone through the gold, orange and rust leaves on the trees, giving them halos like angels. The leaves were swirling to the ground; God’s own harvest party. I was on my way to see my horse, Bey Abbi, an Egyptian Arabian. A song was playing on the radio by Nicole C Mullan called “Redeemer”. Suddenly I felt the presence of the Lord around me and a mixture of joy and sorrow filled my heart. I began to weep as the words touched my soul. “I know, my redeemer lives, I know my redeemer, lives. Let all creation, testify that this life within me cries. I know my redeemer lives.” He lives to take away my shame. He lives forever I will proclaim. He lives and there is an empty grave.” I was weeping and worshipping Him. By the time I arrived at the stables the song was over and I felt peace.
One afternoon I prayed to the Lord “I love Abbi. I wish I could have her.” A few weeks later I received a phone call from the barn. “Krista Abbi is not doing well here. We need to find her a new home. We know you have a special bond with her. We wanted to know if you want her. “Heck yeah!”
So we made arrangements to move her to our property. Our place had 2 ½ acres with a horse set up and shelter. She was unloaded from the trailer and put in her run, where she ran around, came up to the fence and planted a horsey kiss on my cheek! I knew we would be happy together.
Our property backed BLM land so all we did was trail rides, which was perfectly fine for both of us. Vehicles and gunshots hardly fazed her. She had excellent ground manners. I could groom and tack her up without tying her. She was very easy to keep groomed because she did not roll in the dirt and hated being muddy. The farrier was always impressed how quietly she would stand to be shod.
She was very smart. She knew how to untie ropes. If I needed to get something out my car, she would wait patiently until I was done, often putting her head inside the car to watch what I was doing, ears pricked forward. She would often look for people in windows of the house. She also knew the boundaries of our property in Arizona and never crossed them, so I could let her graze in a semi-open area without fear of her running off. She would adjust to the rider. If they were inexperienced she would be as sedate as a plowhorse, if they were experienced she would ramp it up!
She was a clown too. She would turn her head to the side and stick out her tongue for certain people when she was playing, wanted grain or happy. If I brought my camera to take a picture, she would pose.
Over the years I had her I used to spend a lot of time talking to her and telling her about my troubles. She was a great listener. She gave great hugs and never judged me. The morning of that song there were two other people just getting ready to go riding so I quickly tacked up to join them. Adele and Teri were commenting how beautiful Abbi was and I said Thanks. Abbi was in fine form that day, wanting to show off for the two geldings and wanted to trot and canter the whole time. She was feeling really spunky.
As we rode I told the ladies how I almost lost Abbi to colic once and she was in the hospital for two days. I said “I don’t know what I would do if I lost her now.” Then we started trotting in the lovely summer sunshine.
Two days later my husband and I came to see her to clean up her run. I made her a name plate for her stall. She loves the soft peppermint treats and is going crazy over them, licking our hands and looking for more.
Another two days I get a frantic phone call from Joanna at the barn “It seems your mare has colicked. I have called the vet. Please call me back.” I called her back and the vet informs me my horse is very sick and wants to know if I want surgery on her. She said surgery is $5,000-10,000 and has a 30% chance of survival. I tell her no. My husband Chris and I drove over and see that Abbi is standing there on her feet but she does not look at all like the horse I know. She had no spark in her eyes. I called her name, but she does not even respond. I hug her, but she does not even move. She smells like death.
I pray and the Lord tells me to let her go. The vet explains that the smell is uremia. She can’t get any poop past her arm and none of the oil is passing through, most of is is refluxing back. I think back when she colicked last time. She fought it. She wanted to live. She had spark, she responded to me. This time, there was nothing there but a shell of a horse. I knew she had to be in terrible pain because she was covered in mud and manure from where she had rolled to ease her pain. My Abbi was gone. She was suffering. I told the vet we wanted to put her down.
Very gently, she was sedated until she laid down. Then the blue stuff was given to her to help her sleep her final sleep. I was stroking her face talking to her until she was gone.
God gave me Abbi as a gift and I know he was preparing me for her death on that special sunny day by sending the song “Redeemer.” To remind me of his love for me and of His creation. That Abbi was part of his creation and she was given to me for a short time to enjoy but her time on earth was about to end. His love for me was shining through that day in a really powerful way. I am glad I got to go for that one last ride on that beautiful fall afternoon and will treasure it always.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I am crying as we let go of our BEST cat (our 15 year, 3 month) Our blue eyed baby just a week ago. This brought it all back - can't wait to see him again and suspect there are animals in heaven too! Sending you an e-hug as I definitely can relate - the Lord blesses us with our four legged friends and doesn't say we get them here on earth, forever....Thanks Marijo. It is so hard, isn't it?
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