This is the story of my Malachi (pic at the bottom).

     August of last year God started revealing to me the fact that I needed to grow in the area of patience, so I started teaching children's Sunday School at Church, which I thought would prove to be the biggest test of patience. However, also during this time, Kelly had agreed to go out in search of a horse with me. We traveled all over looking at horses. None were really suitable, either the price was too much or the horse was not enough. Thank goodness for Kelly because I have always been one to just "jump in" so to speak. She talked me out of a few wrong decisions I was eager to make.

     Then one day, in mid-September, Kelly remembered that an acquaintance of hers had a horse for sale pretty cheap. She, Kelly, informed me that the horse was supposedly crazy; that he threw his owner's daughter and broke her arm. Aside from the fact that he, the horse, was known to be crazy, I decided to call about him anyway. The man whom I spoke with regard to "the horse" told me I was more than welcome to come and look at the animal, however there was currently a lady interested in purchasing him. I decided to go and check him out and Kelly agreed to accompany me.

     When I first saw the no named horse (nope he did not even have a name), I absolutely loved him. I spent about an hour with the beast and sensed that this animal did not mind a human, it was just that he did not trust a human. No one knew his history because he was purchased from a sale- you know the kind of sale where horses are purchased to be slaughtered for meat! I told the man that I wanted this horse, but he said I would have to wait because he had already given the other woman two weeks to come up with the money, and that he was a man of his word. But, if after two weeks the lady did not come up with the cash, I could have him. So, I had to be very very patient, sheesh, it was really hard for me.

     During my time of waiting, I decided to continue in my search. I searched out a few more horses but did not like either one of them. Finally, the day came. The lady's two weeks were up, so I called the man to find out if the horse was gone. NO! HE WAS STILL THERE! YAY! I was so excited. Waiting patiently had really paid off! The next day, before they delivered him, I had a name picked out for him. His new name was Malachi, which stands for "my messenger." This horse was my messenger of patience from God. Believe me, I am still learning daily from this beautiful Arabian.

     September 25th of this year will be a year since Malachi's delivery to the farm. Today, I am riding him and loving it. Oh, and the craziness must be pretty much out of him because the five (5) year old girl that lives on the farm has rode him bareback all by herself around the yard!!! How amazing is that? It just goes to show that with love and patience anything is possible, even the transformation of a wild crazy horse into a loving child's play toy!

     Oh, and one last note. The day after my Malachi was delivered to the farm, on my way to the stable I noticed something truly amazing. I had not seen this before, even though I had spent many hours with him at this point. He had a perfect cross on his forehead. The only white on his whole body and it is in the shape of a cross! Wow, my God is so good! Thank the Lord for these little signs of assurance that He is working in my life!