DADDY TOOK MY HORSE, SMOKEY, TO THE BLACKSMITH TO GET NEW SHOES. I was about 7 years old, in 1945. With wide-eyes I watched as the blacksmith put iron in the fire. He left it there until it got red hot. Then he pulled it out with a big, long wrench or something, and placed it on the anvil – red hot! He beat and banged on it until sparks began to fly! Because the iron was so hot it was kinda soft. He hammered and hammered and he twisted it into a horseshoe. He already knew Smokey’s size. He put it in the water and it sizzled. He made 4 of them. Smokey just stood there watching. As a little kid, I was wide-eyed. When the blacksmith put them on Smokey, he was happy. Smokey was happy, too.
- I thought this was gonna be really bad with all the fire, noise and beating. Maybe Smokey did, too.
- Daddy knew exactly who to go to for brand new shoes.
- Daddy loved Smokey and so did I. In a way, I think the blacksmith did, in his own way.
- Neither Daddy nor the blacksmith would dare to hurt Smokey.
- The blacksmith knew what he was doing and in no way would he hurt Smokey.
- I learned some lessons from that day.
a. GOD DOES NOT cause us to suffer;
b. He uses many circumstances and crises to make our life better;
c. Since He is LOVE, he knows just the right things to do to make the “shoe” fit;
d. He perfectly understands that things may look scary, but all in all the shoes He puts on us will protect us when we run over rough ground.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (kjv)
“When I am swept by the tempests of life,
Jesus is all I need.
Peace He imparts whatsoever the strife,
Jesus is all I need.
“All that I need He will always be.
All that I need till His face I see.
All that I need thro’ eternity.
Jesus is all I need.”
(James Rowe)
Write It On My Heart 
Thanks so much for writing these. We love you! God bless you & your family, Vivian & Larry Miller
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