A Horse Called Willing

by Rebecca Martin

When Lady's carefree gallop across the pasture ended in disaster, the family needed another horse. That's how Willing arrived at their farm. Willing was a model of . . . stubbornness. Through the adventures, struggles, and surprises that followed, Joel learned about willingness, getting along with others, and, most important of all, that God does all things well. 4 CDs/1 book.

Genres: Horses

165 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1998

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.


Rebecca Martin is a mother of four children, wife of Cleon, and author of numerous books. She and Cleon are members of the Old Order Mennonite Church, semi-retired, and together they enjoy helping their married children. Rebecca also enjoys quilting as a pastime.

Reviews

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten-year-old Joel Stutzman lives on a farm with his twelve-year-old brother Elam, their widowed mother Mary, a dog named Jim, and a horse named Lady. Joel’s dad, Lester, died from cancer when Joel was just one year old. Life isn’t easy without a father. The Stutzman’s rent their farmland to their neighbor, Harvey Yoder and his family, and make a living growing produce in the garden for sale. There is always work to do, weeding the garden, picking the produce, and fixing fences. Joel really wishes that he had a dad like other kids, and sometimes he feels resentful and uncooperative.

Then one day, Lady’s carefree romp across the pasture with Joel and Jim ends in disaster as she steps in a groundhog hole. The vet says that she will be all right, but it will take time for her to heal, so the family needs another horse for the time being. That’s how a horse called Willing arrives on their farm. However, Willing seems anything but what his name implies. In fact, he acts downright unwilling at times. What important lessons can Joel and Willing learn from each other about stubbornness and getting along with others? How can Joel apply those lessons when it appears that he might get a new father after all along with new brothers and sisters? And what will happen to Willing?

This is a pleasant book which is so well written that once I started it, each time I sat down to pick it up I really looked forward to reading it. It is a touching story of family, love, and faith. Through the adventures, struggles, and surprises of Joel and Willing, children will be impressed with the fact that God cares, provides, and does all things well. Any book which successfully illustrates those principles is to be highly commended. Author Rebecca Martin notes that it “is set among people who have chosen a life uncluttered by today’s technology and conveniences” but still “portrays important lessons that apply to all of us,” so one does not have to be Amish or Mennonite to appreciate it. Martin has written several other stories which come highly recommended, such as Fountain of Life; A Captain for Hans; and Joanna's Journey.