Jerry’s cell phone rang and I heard him call our son in law’s name. My antenna
went up, because I couldn’t think of a reason he’d be calling. I left the
kitchen, and went to the den where Jerry was. As I stood in front of him, the
smile on his face turned to a frown, and the word broken drifted from the other
end of the conversation.
Adrenalin pumped, fear rose, and Jerry saw the concern on my face. “Hold
on a minute. “ He took a deep breath and said, “Mari is in an ambulance on the
way to the hospital. A horse kicked her in the back and they think she has
broken ribs. Don’t really know anything else yet.”
Our daughter, Mari, a longtime rider once on a university equestrian
team has never suffered an injury despite a fall many years ago.
It only took a few minutes to grab our things, call our pet sitter, and
take off. What should have been an hour and a half trip turned into over two-hours
because of event traffic in Atlanta. We tried to keep up our hope with
intermittent reports that Mari was talking and seemed to be doing well though
in a lot of pain.
Later we found she had been walking a friend’s horse on a lead, when
inexplicably the horse pulled away, turned, and kicked her in the back. She
never saw it coming and had no time to react.
The blow sent her reeling to the ground while the horse tore off,
running wild.
She tried to get up to keep from being trampled, but couldn’t.
Thankfully, others at the stable saw what happened, rushed to her side,
got the horse under control, and called 911.
Of course, our big concern were head, back, and internal injuries, but
tests revealed she had two shattered ribs and one broken one. As painful and
awful as the injury is, we are grateful because neither the spine, head or
lungs were affected.
Before we left the hospital, even through the pain, she was already
talking about getting back to the stable. Though my heart goes pittypat at the
idea, I knew she absolutely must go back. I was looking at the face of courage.
She probably wouldn’t call it that, because loving horses is in her DNA. It’s
part of what makes her the person she is. But it is courage.
In life, we may have experiences that feel as if we’ve been kicked in
the back―things
we never saw coming. We’re lying on the ground, concerned the pounding hoofs
are headed back our way to finish us off.
How will we ever face the arena again?
It makes me think of something Dr. Brene’ Brown says. “You can choose
courage or you can choose comfort. But you cannot have both.”
If all we’re going for is safe, then the parameters of our life are
going to get narrow.
This applies in to so many different situations, but since I write, I’ll
use that as an example.
I speak with writers who have experienced rejection, and they decide
they never want to submit their work again to avoid the pain. It does hurt when
those negative comments come our way. A lot. I’ve been there so many times, I
wouldn’t be able to count.
When you’re face down, there’s a big temptation to insulate yourself
against experiencing the hurt again. I read recently that the difference
between a published writer and an unpublished one is that the published one
never gave up. True for so many other
applications as well.
If you’re face down from a blow trying to decide what you’ll do next, take
a cue from our daughter. Decide now in the midst of the pain to face the arena
again. Choose courage.
“Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get
discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take” (Joshua 1:9 The
Message).
We’d love to see you at the book launch event for Faith in the Fashion District at Divine Salon, Spa and Gifts in Watkinsville, GA, August 23 from 6-8. If you’ve already purchased a book, just come by, say hello, and have a piece of New York Cheesecake. We’ll have a couple of giveaways that night as well.
To buy Faith in the Fashion District HERE.
To buy Faith in the Fashion District HERE.