Follow your dreams
Trust in the Lord and follow your dreams. We’re often reminded to trust and persevere, and our dreams will be fulfilled–if they are God’s will. But what happens when we realize our dream may not be God’s plan for us?
For me, horses are one of the most beautiful aspects of God’s Creation. They are majestic, powerful, and unpredictable yet accept the domestication that humans place upon them. In most cases, horses submit to their human owners with good grace—in exchange for a full belly and protection from predators or mistreatment.
I love horses.
As a child, my most precious hope was to own a horse. My father helped fulfill my dream by first buying me a pony (from whom I took many tumbles as I learned to ride) and later, a horse I rode at break-neck speed across our farm and throughout the neighborhood.
I was fearless when on horseback.
When I went away to college, my horse and pony were sold. Other interests became my focus, but my love of horses remained. In my mid-thirties we purchased a feisty bay gelding. Even though not quite as fearless as I had been as a teenager, I had no trouble handling the high spirited Arabian.
My daughter and I share a birthday, and years ago, my husband did something quite out of character for him—he bought us a two year old Tennessee Walking Horse. With Chessie (the black horse pictured at the beginning of this message), I fulfilled another dream, training a horse. We acquired other horses and worked toward our biggest dream—owning a horse farm where we planned to board horses and provide lessons. We rounded out our herd when I bought my husband a half Belgian/Paint mare that we call Peaches.
However, by this time, you realize I’m no longer the fearless teenager or the still daring, mid-thirties “girl”. Years ago, when my daughter rode her Arabian, the little horse got excited, slipped in mud, and fell to the ground (with our daughter trapped underneath the horse). Leia (the horse) became more frightened and in her struggle to get up, rolled completely over on our girl. The terrified horse began kicking our daughter, striking her in numerous places. My mother instinct “kicked” in and I moved to pull my daughter out of the way of flailing hooves. Within seconds, the horse regained her footing and ran away. Our daughter experienced bruising, but no serious injuries.
Unexpected injury
I retrieved the still terrified horse and checked her for injuries. After soothing Leia, I planned to mount, just to let her know that is standard procedure after she dumps a rider. Dizziness overwhelmed me and I realized I’d been kicked in the temple when trying to assist my daughter. We all limped back to the house, put ice on our injuries, and rested. I felt fine the next day and returned to work sporting a badly bruised face. But within a few days my condition deteriorated into disorientation and confusion.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. (Psalm 28:7)
Thanks to the Lord
I was blessed—a colleague recognized concussion symptoms and sent me to the hospital. A friend of my co-worker, a doctor experienced with concussions, put me on total rest for a week and limited computer work, reading, and meetings for the next two weeks. My condition gradually improved. I was truly blessed.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love endures forever. (1st Chronicles 16:34)
I had two more horse related concussions in the following years.
Are you thinking—“perhaps this woman is too old to be training horses (or even riding)?” I pray that is not the case, but other circumstances changed our dream of a horse farm. My loved one (the builder of barns and fences) passed away. I’m no longer the fearless teenager—I’m now the more cautious Grandmother, careful and thoughtful in my actions and praying for God’s protection for my family as we live and work on the farm.
New dreams
Experiences have made me wiser when it comes to horses–and of life. None of our life experiences are wasted if we learn from them. And when dreams retreat beyond our reach–we can dream new dreams.
Has your life journey included lost dreams and the gift of new ones? I invite you to share your experiences in the comments.
Our Lord is our strength and shield
Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders. (Deuteronomy 33:12)
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. (Psalm 55:3-4)
I pray for you also—trust in the Lord and seek His guidance to follow your dream.
Katherine, I admire your spunk and bravery. I took riding lessons in the early nineties when we lived in Virginia. I enjoyed it but never got over my fear of falling off. I got a kick in the shin while grooming the horse and a big knot on the shinbone that I can still feel to this day. I’m glad you did achieve your dream. Dreams are gifts from God and He is the one who puts these in our hearts and gives us the stamina and power to achieve them.
I worked with an excellent riding instructor and trainer when I taught college students. Her motto is, “Always keep the horse between you and the ground.” We chuckled about it, but it’s true–no one wants to take a tumble from a horse. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Barbara.
So much to love about this post Ms. Katherine. Not the least is your daring tenacity. Get thrown, get up and get back on. That’s the “farmer girl” I know and love in Christ! I so want to encourage you to consider how you can more safely pursue your dream. As it’s been morphing and changing through the years, I ask that you consider (and yes, I realize you already have) how God is realigning your dream to fit with His plan for you. Had He not taken you through the trials you’ve experienced, you would not have had developed the knowledge and wisdom to apply the lessons learned in your horse training venture. Know I’ll be praying God’s guidance and protection as you move forward to realizing your and God’s shared plan for your life.
Thank you, J.D. Your encouragement means so much. I have considered how I can modify my dream and still keep my horses. So far, the answer has been , “Wait.” I know God has a plan and I’m trying to be patient and wait for His timing. Yes, these trials have made me wiser and stronger and I’m grateful He’s still working on me. May God bless you! (We received some much needed rain tonight. I pray some has come to the Cross-Dubya, too).
Injuries related to riding a horse are scary. When seventeen I was riding saddle broncos in FFA rodeo and ended up thrown into the fence where a couple of nails had worked themselves loose. I ended up in the ER getting stitches in my left hand forehead shoulder hip and calf. Horrible describes that experience. I was riding the next night looking for eight when they pulled that gate.
I had a stretch from junior high school through college where I dreamed of being a professional guitar player and rock star before trigger finger, trigger thumb, and rheumatoid arthritis severely limited my playing ability, I played guitar. I played in several garage bands that played the popular folk rock music of the era. We were good enough to play at youth centers, high school dances, and even some colleges. When in eighth grade I played with a group that was really good and I mean really good.
Unfortunately, I was a military brat and my father retired from the USAF moving us from New England to Texas. So long for that band and me being a part of it. Two of the band’s members stayed together and formed a couple of other versions of the same group. Both became famous as did their band which was one of the biggest in the world in the late 1970 and 1980s. They sold over 25 million albums and had one that sold over six million copies. They filled stadiums and auditoriums with their fans. They made tens of millions of dollars, married supermodels, and had a life many envy. If I shared their names and the name of the band, most over forty years old would recognize the name. What if?
Instead I moved to Texas, ended up an Army officer before going to seminary. I played in bands in high school and college but only one other time with as good of musicians/singers. They too, did music full time while my draft number meant I was going now or going later to the service. I played guitar for several decades in my church instead of living the rock star life. God is good. I’m still around. My two school friends from over fifty-five years ago are both deceased, one passed in 2000 and the other in 2019.
Today I have days where I cannot even finger a guitar chord because of hand issues. I still love music of all types. I rock the “rocker look” according to some folks. No regrets.
Oh, my children were blown away when my mother showed them some snapshots from back in 1966 and 1967 telling them how we practices at the house. My oldest son recognized the guys I was with in the band. My daughter who at one time toured singing backup with major artists while she was dating the music promoter knew the music. She was a voice performance major in college and laughed saying while I was a serviceable guitarist, I was at best a less than average singer. Well, enough rambling and reminisaning.
I’m so thankful you shared, Jim. What an interesting life you’ve had and you’re so talented. We’re near the same age and you’ve certainly got me curious about the bands you played with. Perhaps when we meet in person at the next writers conference we attend together you’ll share that secret. Those “what ifs” hold our attention, but like me, you’ve had many blessings. Wishing you many more.
God uses every experience to grow us, including the ones where we tumble. Thank you for helping us see that life goes on even when our dreams must change.
God is with us through all those tumbles. Our trials teach lessons and make us stronger. Thank you for sharing life lessons and wisdom through your blog and ministry, Diana. May God continue to bless you in service to Him.
While I’ve mostly admired horses from afar, I relate to many aspects of your post. Resiliency and adaptability are two traits the Lord blesses us with. As long as we have a dream alive in our heart is all that matters.
P.S. I can’t imagine how scary it was for you when your daughter fell off the horse. And then on top of that, you dealt with a concussion! Thankfully, God was protecting you both.
The memory of that day the horse fell on my daughter remains forever imprinted on my mind, Candyce. Yes, we were both blessed by our loving Father’s protection. “Keeping a dream alive in our hearts”–I like that. Thank you for sharing.
You’re courageous, Katherine! Horses, frankly, frighten me. But then again, I didn’t have them growing up nor any one of influence to inspire me. However, horses were (and still are) my oldest daughter’s passion. From as little as she was able, she desired to ride. Later, she competed in shows and has a plastic tub of winning ribbons to show for it. Does she own and enjoy a ranch full of them today? No. She’s in nursing school, engaged to a man who’s allergic to those beautiful animals lol. I pray she’ll return to her dream of owning a ranch—and pray the Lord will make a way.
I think those of us who have a passion for horses never lose it. But like your daughter, we grow up and have happy and productive lives. She may have horses again and she may not, but I know God will bless her journey. Thank you for sharing, Mary.
Thank you for sharing your story, Katherine. I loved reading it. I appreciate your wisdom. My writing dream is taking a different path than I’d first imagined, but God is so good to give each of us a purpose and to use each of us in different ways to glorify Him. He truly does give us new dreams. Blessings to you!
I pray God will bless you on the turn your writing journey has taken, Kim. You have so much to offer–He will be with you. Thank you for your encouragement. Peace and blessings!
Thanks for sharing your model of courage. I often retreat to CS Lewis quote- “you’re never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream” when I am faced with next steps.
I also appreciate C.S. Lewis and his wisdom. I’m thankful God is with us on the journey when trials and challenges smash our dreams. God is there with us through the hardship and guides us to new dreams. Praying God’s blessings for you, Marilyn, and for your new book. I know it will bring peace and comfort to those in sorrow, grief, and the journey of healing.
Katherine, this moved me with both compassion and admiration. You are an inspiration as you dream new dreams. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Lisa. I’m grateful for your encouragement and for the loving role model you share through your written word. Peace and joy!
What a frightening experience. I’m glad you both recovered. Lost love, new love… the funny thing is, I never would have met my new love (now 33 years into it) without having first experienced that first love.
I never realized you were such a daredevil Katherine. You are an amazing woman of God and an inspiration.
After years of mission work in Kenyan, I dreamed of retiring there and doing the work full time. But that dream was not meant to be. God had other plans that I never expected (like writing). And I follow these new dreams to see where God will lead me.
I’m so glad you shared how your dreams changed, Yvonne. You’ve reminded us that when God changes our pathway, the new dream is still in service to Him. And He equips us to complete it. May God continue to bless your ministry to His service.
Thank you for sharing your love for horses. I am pretty awed by your bravery. I have always loved horses, but honestly never had much contact with them. They are always a lot bigger in person than in a book! I am grateful for your courage and tenacity. It is a great encouragement to me.
Horses can be terrifying. They are huge, sometimes clumsy (they step on us), and have small brains. But they are lovely, allow humans to train them to do all kinds of things, and they often bring us great joy. Thank you for your kind encouragement, Sylvia. Blessings!
Like many others commenting here, I too have given up some dreams. Every time we take one path we often need to leave another behind. One of the most precious dreams is one I never imagined. God has used me as a missionary on four different continents and given me a love and zeal for sharing His good news. Thanks, Katherine, for sharing these very real stories to illustrate your points about our wonderful Father.
I love your view of this, Annie. “Every time we take one path, we often leave another behind.” That is so true. And our Father often blesses us richly beyond measure when we follow His will on that new path. Your changed paths, your mission work, has blessed so many people. Thank you for sharing the love of Jesus with others.
Glad to hear how the Lord protected and healed you in that scary experience! I, too, loved horses my whole growing up, but had little chance to ride. My dream came true when I worked at a dude ranch for three years, but several scary falls during that season of my life made me a little more willing to give up that dream and move on with God’s new chapter. It was a lesson in ‘letting go’ and recognizing that in the richness of our lives, we have many dreams come true, and it’s okay to let them go when the Lord leads. I love your spunk and determination, Katherine! God bless and keep you safe with those horses!
Thank you, Wendy. After my last fall, I began to realize my vulnerability and I’m a lot more cautious than I used to be. A dude ranch! I’ve always wanted to visit one or actually work on a real western ranch. I bet you have some great memories from that experience. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and especially, for you prayers. Blessings!
Your stories reminded me of my experiences on horses. Not good. Beautiful creatures, but it’s best for me to admire them from the ground. Take care of yourself!
My experiences with horses haven’t always been good either. It’s a good thing that age often brings wisdom and we don’t continue to participate in as many risky behaviors as we did when younger. One of my riding instructors always said, “The goal is to keep the horse between you and the ground.” It works! Wishing you joy and blessings, LuAnn.