Scrapin’ Stalls
When you normally clean stalls, you’re taking out the shavings, manure and left over hay. After all of that is removed then you’ll put down lime and fresh shavings. This is all done on whatever kind of regular basis that is needed for horse or livestock stalls. But let me tell you, there is a task that is more labor intensive that just merely cleaning them out. That glorious chore is scraping.
Copyright 2023 - Jamie Zenteno
Anyone who has horses or livestock can tell you this is just something that you have to do from time to time.. It’s tedious work, it’s harder than just cleaning them out and it takes a lot out of you. Overtime some of that stuff gets packed down and creates a layer that needs to be broken up. Once you dig into it you can usually pull it back and the bottom of the stall is uncovered. However, there is a stench that rises to your nostrils that is notable to scraping stalls. I actually had to stop writing this post around lunch time because I could imagine smelling it. The dampness of covered up yuck is basically what it amounts to. None the less the layers need to be pulled off for a healthy stall environment.
I recently started doing this in the horse barn. It takes hours. I knew it needed it because well life just piles up, you get sick, your body needs to recover and things get put off.
Or.
Let’s look this in a different light. We have things happen to us, we stuff them down and pile layers upon layers of hurt, trauma, frustration and emotions. If left unhealed the layers are compressed leaving those things to fester and breed a stench much like an unscraped horse stall.
It is still possible and I believe it’s never too late to peel those layers of hurt back. Yes, it’s tiring, yes, it’s going to not look very pretty and feel awful in the beginning. Much like that horse stall though, once that bottom layer airs out the stench is gone. Your wounds will heal but only if you dig down to allow that to happen. The shovel of opportunity is yours but it only works if you actually use it.
“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.”—Psalm 30:2
One of the best things I ever did for myself was go to counseling for hurts placed there by others, myself and eventually those things healed. It was uncomfortable and there were lots of ugly cries during lunch time zoom sessions. Like the ones where I had to re-apply all of my make-up because it washed off.
I encourage you if you’re struggling with an area of hurt that needs to be peeled back to take your time in the healing process. If you rush it or don’t dig down deep enough there will be shavings of hurt left over and you’ll have to tend them later.
My prayer for you is complete healing and restoration of your heart. Be patient and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your journey.
