Ahead of the game

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
My friend, Sandy Roots, and I have several things in common. We are both Christians, and were active preacher’s wives, and our husband’s are now deceased. We are former residents of the Bolivar Peninsula in Galveston County located in Southeast Texas. We love our family members and truly enjoy spending time with them. We both enjoy reading and collecting abstract bits of trivia to share with our friends. Some might tell you that we have odd senses of humor and love pulling off a good joke now and then.

Sandy sent me a short writing this morning that piqued my interest and I kept returning to the subject all day. I have been unable to determine the original author of the specific information. I was around horses in Murfreesboro and Shelbyville, Tennessee, for more than 16 years, and we raised and sold Tennessee Walkers. My husband and I owned and cared for our own horses, and as the children were old enough, they got their own pet. Again, in Texas, I was around various breeds of horses, covered stories on them, and attended and wrote about many a rodeo and the men and women who continue to make them popular.

But, I learned something today I did not know about the magnificent animals. I remember seeing foals born on our farm and it was always an exciting time in our lives. Neighbors came over and admired the new addition to the farm family. Speculation rose as to what the new animal would look like, how big it would be, and what type of temperament he or she would possess.

I often thought the horse giving birth did an amazing job with her assignment, but did not know until today that God thought of those mothers in a special way and provided “foal slippers” to help protect them and their new little ones.

Sandy sent an article stating that these “foal slippers,” commonly known as “golden slippers” were provided by God in his marvelous acts of creation. He has always been way ahead of the game when compared to man.

When foals are born, their hooves are covered in a rubbery layer known as a capsule. This soft capsule covers the sharp edges of the foal’s untried hooves, protecting the mare in utero and as the foal travels along the birth canal. You have to be quick to snap a picture of the slippers as they begin to dry out and wear away the minute that they make contact with the air.

During the foal’s first venture across the ground the soft hoof capsules are worn down to meet the level sole, revealing the hooves we are accustomed to seeing. How amazing is that?

Can you imagine for a moment the pain and damage that could be inflicted during birth to the mother and to the young foal trying out his rubbery little legs on hard packed soil? God, like he does so often, saw the need and met it before man ever knew it would be needed.

As I did housework and my grocery shopping today, my mind wandered back through my life, and I thought of the many times he protected me and kept me safe before I ever knew I needed it. How many unanswered prayers, when I was perhaps disappointed that I didn’t get my way, was he keeping me from terrible heartbreak and sorrow?

How many auto accidents, plane crashes, or life threatening medical emergencies have we lived through unscathed because he was guarding us?

Thank you, Sandy, for providing great food for thought for me today by sending the article on the golden slippers.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at 409 781 8788, or
[email protected]

[April-13-2021]

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