Make a Wish

Every once in a while I am reminded of just how blessed I am, and just how "cooshy" my life is. This week, I was reminded in a very memorable way.

Imagine with me what it would be like to be in constant pain. The simplest activities - walking or grocery shopping - would cause excruciating pain. More strenuous movement would be out of the question.

Now imagine if one of the things you absolutely loved doing was horseback riding - not a passive, simple activity, but one that gives joints and muscles a real workout.

Finally, imagine the sorrow you would feel when you thought you might never ride a horse again. All because your body had, in a way, betrayed you.

This is a glimpse into what my new ranch friend had been going through in her life. And then someone told her about what we do here, and offered to bring her out for a visit.

She arrived this week with determination and a vision of what she wanted to accomplish - to once again feel the thunder of hooves beneath her aching body. She admitted she'd be "paying for it" in the days to come, and would likely spend days in bed recovering, but that it was worth it to her.

Sure enough, just getting onto the horse was enough to pop a hip out of place. The pain was evident in her face, but nothing was going to stop her from fulfilling her dream. Unsure of how confident she felt about being on the horse, I began by leading her around. We hadn't gone more than a hundred yards when she said to me, "I feel like I've been granted a Make A Wish. For the last five years I've dreamed about riding a horse again, and now I am!"

After a little more leading, and a change of horses, she was on her own. Even as I type this, I can close my eyes and picture the look on her face as she gently nudged the horse into a soft canter. Her smile was priceless, and for a moment I think the pain was gone. Her head was back, she was laughing, and she was the picture of freedom. It was one of the most beautiful moments I've ever witnessed here, and I feel so blessed to have been a part of it.

So, I'm looking at life a little differently now. I want to find the joy that's in front of me... to accept my many blessings with a grateful heart... and to look for more opportunities to make someone's dreams come true.

Life is good.... life is very good.