I flicked on my flashlight and looked at the clock; it was only midnight. I plumped my pillow. My mind was spinning out of control with “what ifs.” Earlier that day my mare had given birth to Wind Dancer, a gangly-legged, floppy-eared red mule; my dream mule.

The owners of the guest ranch where I worked had let me electric-fence a separate pasture away from their huge herd. It was the safest - and only - option available. But I knew the dangers of newborn colts and electric fences. I rolled on my back, my eyes open wide.

What if Wind Dancer gets tangled up in the wire with the current shocking her? What if a deer runs through the fence and knocks it down and Wind Dancer escapes? Maybe I should check on them.

As I sat up in bed, my German shepherd groaned loudly, as if to say, “Ahem, I’m trying to sleep.”  “Exactly, Tess, I’m trying to sleep too.” Or was I? I had created a drama of “what ifs,” and nothing had happened - everything was fine.

There was one thing I hadn’t done. Lord, I’m worried about this electric fence, but there isn’t anything else I can do. Please guard and protect them. Immediately God’s peace flooded my spirit and within minutes I fell asleep.

The next day I watched Wind Dancer zipping around the pasture. As soon as she approached the electric fence, her mom blocked her way. I pulled up my green plastic lawn chair and watched. Every time that red mule neared the fence, the mare herded her away.

I guess I’ll never know if God gave the mare wisdom or if it was conditioning or instinct or His angels, but I did learn that when I gave my dramatized “what ifs” to God, I could finally sleep.

Thank You, Lord, for reminding me that there’s no sense in both of us being awake.