Katelyn and Abby get to ride Charlie because of a godly heritage. My father befriended a fatherless young boy and now, even though my father is dead, my children share in the benefits of a relationship they did not cultivate.  We inherit positive and negative benefits. We cannot change what we inherit but we can by God Grace determine the legacy that we leave.

Because of the actions of a previous owner Charlie is hypersensitive to any actions that he perceives might cause him pain. Although the new owner, Mike, is nothing like the previous owner that wounded Charlie. It is so hard for Charlie not to assume that Mike will hurt him like his previous owner. Charlie bares the physical scar on the left side of his neck from the abuse of his previous owner;  but more than the physical scare, Charlie’s mind and heart are cemented with an emotionally wound that people will hurt him. Mike must be extremely gentle with Charlie as he tries to determine what actions caused Charlie to react and teach him to trust again.

It is often the second generation which that did not observe or endure the abusive master that is totally freed of the guardedness and fears that often robs them of relational intimacy. People that have no intent of hurting them but due to the wounds of the past are viewed as a potential predator. (For me I never saw papa James abuse like my father did. For Jim’s mom. For Rebecca with her dad.)

My prayer is that the scars we bear like Charlie will be used to pass on a life-giving legacy and not continue to cripple us and the generations to come. We all share the scars of a sinful world and even cause scars in people we love. However, the more we are surrounded by God’s presence the more the perfect love of a father can heal these wounds. Freeing us from responding and reacting out of fear of being wounded and thus robbing us of relationships with Christ and others.

As we left Charlie and Mike yesterday, the lead rope and the loading on the horse trailer triggered painful memories in this majestic animal. He became defensive and reared up snatching the rope 20 yards back and pulling it as tight as possible trying to break its hold. Katelyn and I watched as the atmosphere totally changed. Everyone was tense because now there was a fight. It was no longer the simplicity of having a fun evening riding a horse. Communication stopped and everyone was on edge as we watched to see how far Charlie was going to allow his assumptions and fears to take him. He was scared of being hurt again but the reality was Mike only had his best intentions in mind.

Can you picture this same scene in your life when we react out of fear and accepted the lies of your own wounds. God give us grace to pass on I life giving legacy and receive our acceptance from Christ. “I sought them Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed (Psalm 34:4-5) and “They shall know the truth and the truth shall set them free”. The truth of the gospel is, “it is finished”, Jesus has accepted me.

(Personal Note: Not for if I ever share it publicly. For me it is the lie that I am “a dumb country boy”. I pray in this generation that I will learn how to reject this lie and receive the truth of the Gospel. With this confidence, I can  do great things with the talents God has given me. For Rebecca, I pray that she would be able to get over the rejection of a father, working for acceptance, and learn to trust imperfect people who may occasionally still hurt her but love her and not think they will wound of her like her father did.)