More Than Beasts of Burdens

I’ve always had a soft spot for donkeys. I can’t remember exactly when it started, but I do remember the first one I ever saw. It was standing in the middle of a field surrounded by five or six horses. While the others grazed together, that poor donkey stood off to the side, looking like it had wandered into the wrong party. I remember thinking, “Well, bless his heart—he must be so lonely.”

As a little girl, I figured the farmer had accidentally bought a donkey when he really meant to buy another horse. Later in life, I learned that the donkey wasn’t there by mistake at all. Turns out, farmers know a thing or two.

Donkeys are protectors. They’re not nearly as fearful as horses, and when a coyote or some other predator comes prowling around, that little gray guardian will bray, bite, and kick until the threat hightails it out of there.

You’ve got to love that kind of grit in such an unassuming package. A donkey doesn’t have the sleek beauty of a horse or the elegance of a deer—but it’s got backbone, and I think that’s part of what makes it special.

Another thing I’ve always found fascinating is that donkeys carry a dark cross across their backs and shoulders. Some say it’s just the way the hair grows, but I’ve always liked the story that after Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, every donkey born after that carried the mark of that sacred moment. Whether that’s true or not, it’s still a beautiful reminder of humility and service—the very things the donkey represents.

The Bible mentions donkeys quite a bit, and every time I read about one, I can’t help but smile. Abraham loaded a donkey with the supplies for his journey of faith. Balaam’s donkey saw an angel when its master couldn’t, and after being beaten three times, that poor animal finally spoke up—literally! I’ve known a few people who could learn a thing or two from that donkey about seeing what others can’t and knowing when to speak.

And then, of course, there’s Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. He didn’t choose a chariot or a proud stallion. He chose a donkey—a symbol of peace. Kings rode horses into battle, but they rode donkeys when they came in peace. That says everything about the kind of King He is.

I suppose that’s why I’ve always admired donkeys. They may look plain, but they carry purpose. They don’t need fanfare or fancy saddles. They just quietly do their job—steady, dependable, and humble.

And maybe that’s what I want to be when people look at me someday—a little less like a show horse and a little more like a donkey. Faithful. Peaceful. Marked by the cross.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the lessons You tuck into the simplest of creatures. Help me to live like the donkey—faithful in service, steadfast in spirit, and willing to carry Your peace wherever You lead me. May others see the mark of the cross upon my life, not in words alone but in quiet acts of love and humility. Amen.

Random musings ©️ Bonnie Annis