Today’s Post By: Rae Lynn DeAngelisWhen my parents moved from Cincinnati to Indiana, I wondered how the transfer would impact my social life. In the suburbs, everything was walking distance–stores, friends, school. At age thirteen with no means of independent transportation, I was miles away from everything.It took some time before I got to know any girls my own age, and when I did finally make a few friends, they lived pretty far away. Visits had to be planned in advance, and because they were few and far between, I eventually found other interests to occupy my time.Since our new home was situated on a five acre lot, my dad was able to board his horses in our back yard. To pass the time, I spent hours with our barnyard friends. Horses are majestic and gentle creatures. I’m amazed at how easily they submit to humans who dwarf in comparison. As a budding teen, I felt a special connection with Ranger and Snip; they seemed to understand me in ways that no one else did. I confided in them my secret fears and dreams, and they listened without judgment or lecture.Riding gave me a sense of freedom and became something my dad and I did together. Our common interest nurtured a special father/daughter bond between us.Once, while riding through some nearby woods, my dad and I came upon a big open field. The horses saw their opportunity and took it. My dad’s horse, Ranger, took off into a full gallop, igniting the competitive spirit of my own horse. When Snip sprung forward, I was caught off guard and lost my balance. Before I knew what happened, I was lying flat on my back with a confused horse staring down at me, wondering why I was on the ground.As soon as my dad realized what had happened, he rushed to my aid. Physically, I was fine. Mentally was another story.As I staggered to my feet, I trembled in fear, knowing full well what could have happened if my fall had taken a different turn. We were far from home, and I was terrified to get back in the saddle. But thankfully, after a few minutes of encouragement, my dad finally convinced me to get back on the horse. He explained that if my last experience with Snip was a fall, I would likely never ride again. He was probably right.With me securely mounted in the saddle again, Snip seemed eager to regain my trust and walked, gingerly, the rest of the way home.My little life experience has been a profound lesson to this day. Every time I fall and feel like giving up, I remember how important it is to dust myself off, get back in the saddle, and ride again.The Lord makes firm the stepsof the one who delights in him;though he may stumble
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