Grateful for Dixie

Day 98.. Life is scary if I let it be. Life is lonely, if I let it be. Life is exhausting, if I let be. These feelings have shown their ugly faces time and ugly time again.. 

This weekend..WOW! Gorgeous weather, gorgeous events, gorgeous friends. But yet I found myself struggling to stay positive. My anxieties were creeping in, and taking the joys away from a beautiful weekend.

Saturday night we had the pleasure of attending Boots and Barrels, an amazing event that supports Heritage Christian Stables, a place that offers therapeutic horse back riding.  As we sat down for dinner, a guest speaker shared her experience with the stables. She reminisced of a time, one that if she could describe her life it would be that of a dream. She was happily married with three beautiful, healthy children. Until unexpectantly her daughter collapsed at a birthday party. Their life would be forever changed. A rare medical emergency would leave their daughter never the same again. 

I had to excuse myself from the table, stories like this, fill my heart with sadness. How grateful that Heritage Christian Stables offers this child, this family joy as they have a long journey ahead.  As I walked through the stables, my attention went to a massively beautiful horse named Dixie. As I rubbed her beautiful coat, she needed the affection as much as I did. I laughed and thought to myself  "who needs a couch when you can pet a horse?". I found therapy in that quiet moment, and prayed for a family that has seen such pain and suffering.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7) In moments when life feels hard to catch a breathe, I've found I need to  replace my anxious thoughts with thanksgiving, with gratitude.  It's like a light switch goes off, my world that appears dark, suddenly brightens, I can see again. I see hope. I see love. I see God at work all around, I see this magnificent horse.. 

Love, 

Lisa Ray