THE OLD ONE

I received this today in an email and thought I would share it with you. It is so uplifting and encouraging. Enjoy!

THE OLD ONE

A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory pre-

Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly

Parents with their small herd of horses. The farm was where they

Had grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge

Pine, which topped the hill behind the farm. Through the years the

Tree had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a

Landmark in the countryside. The young siblings had fond memories

Of their childhood here, but the city hustle and bustle added more

Excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different life.

The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had

Taken their toll, and getting out to the barn on those frosty

Mornings was getting harder, but it gave them a reason to get up in

The mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each

Year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and

Contentment at day's end.

Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the

Old folks "Why do you not at least dispose of The Old One." She

Is no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had foals

From her. You should cut corners and save so you can have more for

Yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything but

Expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?"

The old man looked down at his worn boots, holes in the toes,

Scuffed at the barn floor and replied, " Yes, I could use a pair of

New boots. His arm slid defensively about the Old One's neck as he

Drew her near with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her

Ears. He replied softly, "We keep her because of love. Nothing

Else, just love."

Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his

Wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness

Stole through the valley. The old couple shook their heads in

Sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear fell upon their

Cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the

Peace of the love that filled their hearts?

So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed

The insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn.

None saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One".

In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry

Flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror

And despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he

Raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But the flames were

Roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing

To the ground, helpless before the fire's fury. His wife back from

Calling for help cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other,

They wept at their loss.

By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing

Ruins were left, and the old man and his wife, exhausted from their

Grief, huddled together before the barn. They were speechless as

They rose from the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to

The firemen as there was nothing anyone could do now. The old man

Turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as

His shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red

Bandana.. Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has

Spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather strength

And climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in

Times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks

To God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved most

Precious gifts that have been taken from us.

And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy

Hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and

Withered hand.

The journey up the hill was hard for their old bodies in the steep

Snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the

Hill, they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the

Old couple gasped and fell to their knees in amazement at the

Incredible beauty before them.

Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught

Up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine,

And it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most

Bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had

a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were

breathless as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms.

Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy.

Amazed and mystified, he took his wife by the hand and pulled her

forward. There, beneath the tree, in resplendent glory, a mist

hovering over and glowing in the darkness was their Christmas

gift. Shadows glistening in the night light.

Bedded down about the "Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was

the entire herd, safe.

At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her

muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great

dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping

cautiously through the snow. The foals were frightened and dashed

about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry

flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips

and hopped like rabbits. The mares that were in foal with a new

years crop of babies, pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now,

she lay among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his

wife. Those she loved she had not disappointed. Her body was

brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the golden eyes were

filled with devotion as she offered her gift---

Because of love. Only Because of love.

Tears flowed as the old couple shouted their praise and joy... And

again the peace of love filled their hearts.

This is a true story.

Willy Eagle

This is an Inspirational message sent to a small group of people.

My hope is that it will make your day just a little bit better.