Told Through the Eyes of a Horse

By Diana Lynn

Told Through the Eyes of a Horse is meant to be read through childlike eyes. This Christ-centered story is about an ordinary horse and his ordinary cowgirl. Sterling had a life to fulfill—to grow and mature into a great warrior horse. His owner, Diana, had a love for the heart of the cross, and her mission goal was to raise Sterling as her Jesus horse. Together they were to share the gospel message of God’s love on horseback. Bonding in a horse/owner relationship brought them into living in the heart of each other’s life dream.

Being raised through Christ strengthened Sterling and Diana for the day that would change both of their lives. With humbled hearts, they found comfort in coming to God in prayer. They knew that the best way to heal a broken heart is to give God all the pieces. Seeking spiritual understanding of the knowledge and wisdom from the Word of God, they surrendered themselves to His calling upon their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 11, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512783223

Diana Lynn

As Diana Lynn raised her horse, Sterling, through Christ, she found her own personal spiritual growth in knowing God in Jesus Christ. Receiving Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at the age of fifty, she, through the love from the cross, found her purpose in life. She treasures the divine opportunities that God has for her in sharing the heart of the gospel. She still lives on the same property in Murrieta, California, where her three children, Artemis, Starra, and Iosif, were raised. Adding to the barnyard memories of laughter are her seven grandchildren.

Book preview

God in Prayer

CHAPTER 1

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W hen I grow up, I want to be a great warrior horse with beaded eagle feathers attached to my mane, symbolizing strength and courage to face whatever stands before me. Yep, that’s my birthday wish: to one day become a great warrior horse. But right now, I’m only a baby boy colt. Yeah, I’m not grown up yet, so I need an owner to take care of me.

When the owner of the ranch first saw me, she was happy about the birth of cute little me. But as she checked my body over, she discovered that I had no natural paint markings, and she was disappointed. Although she thought I was cute, I wasn’t the Paint Horse she had been hoping for. You see, she had been hoping for a colorful coat pattern that is absolutely necessary to the identity of the breed of a Paint Horse. I wasn’t born with any white hair on my chestnut-colored body.

But she was happy with my overall appearance. My parents had great bloodlines, so she was able to register me with the American Paint Horse Association. But she was sad that I didn’t have any natural paint markings and could only be registered as a Solid Paint or Breeding Stock.

She really had no need of me anymore and decided to give me away. A girl standing by her prayed for God to send me a special someone to love and take care of me. I was very sad that she didn’t want me anymore, but I was still happy to be born. I had my whole life ahead of me, and I had a dream to fulfill.

I didn’t want to sleep for fear I would miss that special someone who that God person was going to send to love me. I just knew that there had to be someone out there in this world who wanted to love me as her very own horse.

One day, as I woke up from my midmorning nap, I noticed that the owner of the ranch and a couple of giggling middle-age cowgirls were looking down at me. They startled me, and I jumped up and stood with eyes wide open. I was supposed to be alert, watching. The one with the hat on slowly reached in my corral, gently touched my neck, and said with a soft voice, Hi, sweetie. You’re so cute. She took off her sunglasses and bent down to me—I was quite small—and as we focused on each other’s face, I saw kindness in her eyes.

The ranch owner said, If you want him, he’s yours—free.

Free, the cowgirl said. He’s worth more than free.

Someone called out, Diana, let’s go.

The cowgirl turned and waved, and I thought, Diana, that’s the cowgirl’s name.

She turned back to face me, gave me a wink, and said, See you tomorrow.

I think she likes me. I so hope she does. I gave her my gentle whinny sound to say that I would see her tomorrow.

She came back the next day, handed over some money to the ranch owner, and bought me. The ranch owner said, Thanks, Diana. He is still too young to be separated from his mother, but he should be ready to go home with you in about a month, when he is about five months old.

Thank you, Nora, Diana said. I will come to visit him throughout the month.

Whistling a pleasant tune, Diana entered my corral and started cleaning up my manure. I will never forget how proud I was when she gave me my name. She walked over to me, gently touched my neck, and with a soft, loving voice, said, Your name will be Sterling.

So my name is Sterling. I like that name.

The month went fast, and Diana and I bonded as horse and owner. Then the big moving day came. I was out roaming my corral when I saw a horse trailer pull around to the side of the barnyard. Could it be Diana coming for me? I heard her voice. Her voice was coming closer. Then I could see her. She had a halter and a lead rope in her hand.

Hey, Sterling, she said. It’s time to go home.

I am excited, I thought to myself, but on the other hand, kind of scared—yes, a little afraid. I had never ridden in a horse trailer before. With my baby halter on and with the humming of her voice, she walked me toward the horse trailer. I heard her asking God to help calm me in entering the trailer and to be next to me so that I wouldn’t be afraid.

Thank You, God, for Sterling, she said as I proudly pranced by her side.

Wow, she thanked God for me, I thought. She loves me just the way I am. Then I decided something. When God rides next to me in the trailer, I will gently whinny to him with an added head toss in thanking him for Diana.

All the other horses on the ranch gave me a neigh when I walked past them. I gave them a final neigh as the horse trailer left the ranch. I looked around in the trailer, and I saw no one but me. I wanted to spend some time with God. I thought one day I would get the chance to meet and talk to him, and then I could personally, from my heart, thank God for Diana.

In the morning, Diana approached me with my morning alfalfa and said, Good morning, Sterling. How was your first night sleeping on your fresh straw in your new barn? I sure hope the rooster didn’t wake you too early this morning. She slowly entered my corral and calmly walked toward me. She gently placed my alfalfa on the feeding mat and then kindly gave me some from her hand. She said, God bless this food and use it to nourish Sterling’s body, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

As I ate, she lovingly stroked my neck and said she had to be truthful in telling me that she had little knowledge for training me, but she knew someone who did—and that someone was God himself. She said that God is love,¹ and that is how she wanted to raise me—in his love.

So right then and there, she said, God, I’m asking for Your loving knowledge in raising and training Sterling and also that I may understand Your ways of communicating with him.

In her asking God, her voice was as if she was talking to someone right next to us, but I saw no one but her. After I clean your corral and barn area, I need to go into town, she said. I will buy you some carrots when I’m out and about. When I get back, we can continue our conversation.

When