I've decided to tell you a story. It's a story of faith, or maybe lack of it. It's a story about my human limitations getting in the way. It's a story of faith & a child's need for wise words from his grandma. It's a story about how we need each other...one body in Christ.
Austin and his sister Halle lost their Daddy 2 years ago. Matthew was what I'd call a "horse whisperer". Everything that Matthew knew about horses, I was told, came from his grandpa and his dad. But, you know, Matthew had a little bit more.
He was a natural horseman. As at home on a horse as on his own two feet. Bareback or saddled, made no difference to him. I think he must have understood them on such a level as most of us have only seen in movies, like the one with Robert Redford.
Matthew put Austin on a horse at a very early age. So young that I thought my hair would turn white! But, Austin was a good pupil.
Father and son shared a common bond...the love of and respect for horses. Matthew taught Austin everything he knew about horses, and the boy absorbed the information like a sponge.
This story actually begins within weeks of Matthew's passing. It was not unusual for me to be involved in deep conversations with my grandkids...so, for Austin to actually ask me this question really wasn't a surprise.
He just looked at me one evening while he was working on his homework assignment, and asked, "Nana...are there horses in heaven?"
Now, here's where my physicality and my practicality got in the way. What should I say? I never really thought about animals in heaven. I had spent the majority of my adult life believing that in heaven we would find humans...like me...made in God's image...like people. Animals? They don't have souls, do they? Could there be a place for horses there?
Sure...on earth...grab two of every kind and make sure they've got passage on the ark. But, everlasting life?
So, what to say? Guess I did what every grown up does, who's unsure & doesn't want the child to know it..."Well, Austin," I said, "I just don't know."
He just kinda said "hmmm, I hope so."
I just shrugged it off til the subject came up again with him. We were in the car that time, I think. Probably talking history...cuz I love history...and he's a sponge, like I said before.
"Nana, do you think there are horses in heaven?"
By this time, I'd thought the thing through a little bit more. I knew he thought about it all the time. And I knew he wanted me to say yes. There are those hymns, like "All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small". Right? And then there's "All Creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and WITH US sing"...that's gotta be a clue...St. Francis of Assisi wrote those words and he surely knew what he was talking about. Right?
You know, I read somewhere that Newsweek took a poll and found that 76% of Americans believe in Heaven...but, why isn't there a poll that answers that burning question about horses in heaven? What do other people think? I needed help...I needed to hear other people's input.
"Nana...Nana...are there horses in heaven?" Oops, sorry...I was thinking.
"Well, Austin...I think there might be...probably...maybe...I don't know."
When I think of heaven, I think of my grandmothers who taught me how to make doll clothes, popcorn balls, hollyhock dolls, and oatmeal cookies.
When I think of heaven, I think of my Uncle Allen who taught me all kinds of stories about the old days and his folks (he was a Methodist preacher...he loved to tell stories! You know, like Apostle Paul said "some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers..."
Well, my uncle was a great pastor. I do remember how he would have us sit in the living room and listen to the tapes of his sermons! But, that's another story...)
But horses? I don't really think about horses...
When I think of heaven, I think of pearly gates at the entrance...gold brick pavers...crystal clear glass walls...
But, horses?
When I think of heaven, I see my friend Cindy...voice of an angel...or smooth caramel, if you will. Cindy sang with me many years in choir right up here...youth choir, adult choir...and high school mixed choir, small groups, on and on and on...We were even in a small folk group in high school for the Cardinal Capers...played guitars...called ourselves the Soph Strummers...we were sophomores at the time! Cindy even helped me name my first born, Brandon...I remember we were sitting on the floor of my apartment, discussing names & meanings, putting them all together with middle names and writing them out on paper to see how they looked! We chose his 1st and middle name so that we could use the nickname BJ (cuz we both had a crush on BJ Thomas who sang "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" from "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.") His name means "from the fiery hill"...it suits him. Thank you Cindy, it suits him. Yeah, I see Cindy in heaven. To me, she reminds me of the Pharoah's daughter. You know, she named Moses, Moses because it means "I drew him out of the water".
When I think of heaven, I also see another friend, Diane...who showed us all how to love the Lord, didn't she? Diane delivered a message one Sunday morning on Rahab...mother of Boaz, who would be of the lineage of Jesus. Rahab was a great spiritual hero...kinda like Diane.
But, horses?
When I think of heaven, I see rivers of pure water, a heavenly throne, angels' wings, harps..I see white robes, saints, a heavenly choir...
But horses?
When I think of heaven, I see blissful, happy people...family...I see my Dad...I see my friend, Jay, now a warrior for God.
But, horses?
So, one day at work, I was talking to my friend Vicky about this. "Vicky, you know my grandson has asked me for two years about horses in heaven. And I just don't know...I wish I could say so with certainty...but, I just don't know." I strive always to be honest with my grandkids.
And Vicky, dear sweet Vicky, looked me in the eye and said, "Of course, there are horses in heaven."
"Huh?" (Now Vicky is a Christian woman, and I knew she knew what she was talking about. But, I'd been blinded to this for a long time!)
She said, "Ann, remember...the heavens will open and Jesus will come to us on a white horse?"
Fact...end of mystery!
I think my jaw dropped! God had placed Vicky with me at that moment when I expressed my concern for Austin, and He gave her the answer! God had placed Vicky with me at that moment when I needed help the most!
Awesome!
I have to say that I'd not been so excited for a long time! I couldn't wait to get over to my daughter's house and talk to Austin.
I waited til football practice was over, and called up there. He'd gone to a friend's house in New Market to play for an hour before coming home...Man! I could hardly stand it! My excitement was building for sure! I said, "Please call me the minute he gets home, ok? I wanna talk to him!" Cathy goes, "Huh?" (I think my family says that a lot!) I told her, "You'll see!"
When Austin did get home, she called me...I grabbed my Bible...the passage already marked...and sped up there (well, I didn't speed actually, but I went as fast as I could!)
He knew I was coming...his Mom had told him I wanted to talk to him (I think she assured him he wasn't in trouble! Cuz he didn't look scared when I got there!)
Bible in hand, we walked into his mother's room and he and I sat in the middle of her bed. I held my Bible up in front of me, and said, "Austin, do you believe that what is in the Bible is true?"
"Yes" he said. No hesitation. But, by this time he was looking pretty confused.
So, I quickly read Rev 19: 11-14: "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean."
Austin was so excited he literally exploded off the bed, running to his mother who was in the laundry room. "Mommy, Mommy, there are horses in heaven!"
Yes, Austin...there ARE horses in heaven!
I have to say that now, when I think of heaven...I see Cindy in the heavenly choir, Diane at the foot of the throne, Jay guarding the gates, Uncle Allen telling stories, Dad guiding newcomers in the throne room, my grandparents in places of honor, and Matthew with the horses...yeah, Matthew working the horses! And I feel such deep, abiding joy for this eternal abode. All who have placed their faith in Jesus...all creatures great and small...have rooms in mansions of shimmering beauty & jeweled foundations.
Yes, Austin...there ARE horses in heaven!
Amen
