Blessed
Last year on this day, I had a horrible accident. I was thrown from the back of a horse that bolted on me. Little did I know, but this horse was “green” meaning that it truly was not broke to ride. The person that we got this horse from was not honest with us as I found out when the horse took off with me on the back. I was literally holding on for dear life gripping the horn of the saddle with all of my might trying to remain in the saddle. We have six acres out in the country, and that runaway horse took me the whole entire length of our property. It was only when she turned to go the other direction that my feet slipped out of the stirrups, and I was thrown from the back of this horse. Thankfully this happened before the horse decided to start bucking, causing the saddle to go underneath the horse. I don’t want to even begin to think how much worse it could have been had that happened while I was still on the horse!
The result of the accident was a fractured left hip/pelvic area as well as a fractured left hand. The hand, no doubt, was fractured from me slamming it down on the horn of the saddle and the struggle to hold on tight. The fracture to my hip/pelvic area was due to landing hard on the ground when I was thrown off.
For me to be here today is truly a blessing. I know that God was with me that day because the accident could have been much, much worse. I thank God that it wasn’t because I have two children that need me, and I thank God that I am blessed to be here with them and for them today.
A few months after the accident, I was anxious to get back in the saddle again. I didn’t necessary want to ride at this point, but I wanted to at least sit in the saddle again to overcome my fear. I knew if I didn’t get back in the saddle soon that the fear would take over, and I would never ride again. I did not want that to happen, and I had to conquer that fear so it would not keep me from doing something that I have such a passion for. When the day came that I felt I was ready to try, I chose my faithful horse who was 15 years old at the time. She was an experienced horse and one of the best, well trained horses that we have. She took excellent care of me. I managed to pull myself up into the saddle, and I sat up there so proudly because I was back in the saddle again! Then, as my horse stood quietly, I leaned down to hug her. She restored my faith in horses once again and allowed me to conquer my fear.
Today is a very important day for me. I look back at the accident that never should have happened but did due to a person’s dishonesty. Had this person just been honest with me, we would never have purchased this horse. All this person could see was dollar signs, though, and she did not consider the danger of putting a green horse with our family. Had she just been honest with us … why is it so hard for people to just be HONEST these days?! Yes, she would have lost the sale, but she would have also prevented an accident! This horse was purchased for my two daughters, and I just thank GOD that they were not riding this horse when she decided to bolt. I just thank GOD that if anyone had to go through this, it was me … and NOT my two precious daughters!
What ever happened to the horse that bolted on us, you might be asking? We called the lady up that sold us this horse and told her what happened. Initially, she was not that apologetic and wasn’t going to take the horse back or refund us the money. However, she soon decided to do so, and still has the horse to this day. You know how they say that Karma will get you? Well, I’m not a believer in that saying or know whether that is necessarily true or not, but I was told a few months ago that this girl sustained an injury while working with a horse. The extent of her injuries was a broken knee cap! She had surgery and was in a cast where she was pretty much bedridden and unable to do anything at this point due to the cast. I am truly sorry that happened, as I would not wish this on my worst enemy. But, I did wonder if the same horse that did this to me … also did this to her.
Our family has been horse lovers for a very long time, and I did not want this accident to change any of that. We have five horses now, and we love them all. They bring us so much joy and happiness.
Not all horses are like this. Please know that! I don’t want you to read this post and vow to never get on the back of a horse! We have five – more mature – horses that are just wonderful! They range in ages from 10 to 16 years old. That is a good age for reliable, seasoned horses! They have been around enough to know the ropes, are well trained, and make excellent mounts! They are perfect for a leisurely trail ride where you can enjoy God and the beautiful world that He has given us! Honestly, I feel a little bit closer to God on the back of a horse. As much as I love God and want to see Him one sweet day, I just thank Him that my time on earth wasn’t up on March 31, 2014!
Was it painful last year going through all of this with the accident? YES! But, God helped me through that time in my life, as He has at other times when I have struggled. God is faithful and true!
This had the ability to snuff out my desire to ride horses ever again. It had the ability to deprive me of something that, in the past, had given me so much joy. Our family would seek out destinations to go on vacations and make sure that there was a ranch nearby so that we could go horseback riding while on vacation! That is how much we LOVE horses! Then our dreams came true when we became horse owners ourselves! I feel very blessed to have these giant creatures that God has given us. I have a high respect for people that take “green” horses and “break” them so that they will one day be suitable to ride. I have no desire to do that, though, especially after the accident last year. I just thank God that it wasn’t any worse than it was and that my children did not get hurt.
There was a lesson to be learned in all of this, though. As much as we would like to believe that people are true and honest … sadly, they aren’t. They will lie, and your life could be endangered due to their dishonesty. That’s the sad, harsh facts! But, an important lesson is to NOT take a single day for granted. Appreciate the life that God has given you and get out there and LIVE it! Overcome your fears! Live your dream!
Today, I feel I am an overcomer! With God by my side, He has helped me overcome the injuries I sustained in the accident that never should have happened! I feel that God has helped me to overcome my fear and allowed me to get back in the saddle again with my seasoned horse that takes good care of me. I am blessed to be able to share this passion for horses with my family. My husband is involved with the care of our horses, and he also enjoys trail riding. My children are involved and enjoy these beautiful horses that we devote so much time caring for and exploring God’s countryside on.
Yes, today is a wonderful day, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am blessed by God above!
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While I was thinking of writing a post about this very topic today, it tied in perfectly with the prompt word of Blessed for Karen’s Tuesday At Ten.
What Is Ruining Your Witness?
Saturday midday we stopped in at a barbeque place just outside of our hometown as my mouth was watering for some good ole tomatoes and rice. No, this isn’t the traditional side with barbeque in the South, but there was hash and rice as well as the pork barbeque meat also. All day, though, I had a craving for those dang tomatoes and rice.
We walked though the line filling our plates with all of the goodness that the buffet offered. Oh, I could not wait to dive into those tomatoes! My family and I found a good seat by the door, on the end of the table, and we bowed our heads to say the blessing before we started eating. After we finished the prayer, we dove into our plates. Imagine food slinging as both of our hands were at work with our forks shoveling food into our mouths. JUST KIDDING!! It wasn’t quite that bad. Close, but … again, kidding.
I looked up from my plate to see a group coming through the door. To me, it looked like a youth group or maybe a family from the church with a few teens with them. The man spoke with an authoritative tone, and everyone in the group seemed to look to him as they made their way through the buffet line, to the table of their choice, and right on up to the point where he lead them in prayer before their meal.
I paused for a moment admiring them showing their faith as they bowed their heads to pray. I listened as the man loudly said the blessing for the group, and then they began to partake of their meal.
Yes, it had to be a youth group … or something pertaining to the church, I thought.
Then it happened.
The moment that changed everything.
As the gentleman was speaking, he slipped in a curse word, and in that instance, he ruined his witness for Christ, in my eyes.
Could the conversation have done without the curse word? Absolutely! It was not necessary and did not add anything to the conversation. If anything, it greatly took away from it with the need for him to say such a dirty word. And … it most definitely ruined the whole feel I had about him and the group.
Maybe I was wrong after all … maybe they were NOT a part of the youth group or a part of a church. But, if they were, they totally ruined their witness for Christ with what went down shortly after their prayer.
The same man that prayed with such conviction and authority is the same one that turned around and said that bad word.
Then it hit me.
What is ruining your witness, I thought to myself.
It wasn’t long before my husband could tell that I was lost in my thoughts, so he inquired as to what I was thinking. I began to tell him what I had observed and how my thoughts wandered to what we do that ruins our witness. No, we aren’t perfect, and we aren’t supposed to be. We are supposed to strive to live a good life and do good to all those that we encounter. But it occurred to me that just as we sat there watching this group as they entered the doors right on up to their conversation that we couldn’t help but overhear at a nearby table, people are watching us, too!
Maybe you haven’t given this much thought either until now, but people especially watch Christians and hold them more accountable and to a higher standard because we do proclaim to be Christians, which means we are to exhibit Christ-like behavior. But, do we always? No … we don’t.
When we lose our patience with the clerk behind the counter at the store …
When we smart off at people …
When we get an attitude, whether we feel it is warranted or not …
Do we stop to remember that the bible says we are to sin NOT in our anger? Do we obey?
How about in general conversation, just like this man … do we slip in curse words that we feel add to the conversation to make it more interesting? Here’s a newsflash: They aren’t needed! If you feel that your words aren’t interesting enough in themselves without adding in curse words, maybe you should just sit quietly.
I’m not just preaching and not taking this into consideration in my own life. Believe me. I’ve been thinking on this all weekend long! All of the above is something I’ve been thinking on and telling myself within the last few days.
Even sarcasm isn’t necessary. Some times it is funny when you are joking around and the person knows you are just kidding, but be sure not to take it too far to where it ends up being insulting.
Will you take time to think on this and see what items may be ruining your witness and what you may need to change? I know I will.
Life Matters And So Do You!
Every weekday morning at 7:40 a.m. on our local radio station they share a message from a pastor. He ends his message the same way by saying, “Life matters … and so do you!”
Think of the impact that this phrase could have on people every where!
What if someone was really depressed and feeling as low as they could possibly go, and then they hear a message such as this?
They may be feeling as if they do not matter to anyone so what is the use anyway. Maybe they are consumed with lies from the devil, yet they hear the truth that they DO matter. That is life changing right there if they allow it to soak into their being and see the truth instead of listening to the lies from the enemy!
People do need to hear this and know deep down in their hearts that they do matter. They are important! What they have been through and are going through is important, too! It is a part of their story, and their story deserves to be told!
How can you impress upon someone today and let them know that they matter? In this cold, cruel world, how can you impact another person’s life with a positive message? Think on it and then put action behind it and actually do something about it.
Compliment someone. It might make a difference in their day and in how they view themselves, especially if inside they have a negative self image.
Treat people with respect. You would want that, so give to others that which you desire as well.
Listen with your ears but also your heart. We rush through our days often times not really hearing what people are trying to say to us. Listen intently and then allow your heart to show that care, concern, and empathy. Some times what means the most is when people are allowed to talk about what is bothering them when they know they have someone that is listening and cares! Give them your full attention especially at times when they are opening up and beginning to pour their hearts out to you.
YOU can make a difference. You know why? Because life matters … and SO DO YOU!
