Courage
of a horse
by Vicki Fourie
How I wish we could face our everyday struggles with the same courage and determination as horses do. Life tends to catch us off guard, just when we least expect it. We keep showing up unprepared. In the end, we struggle to weather life's storms. Most of the times, we give up even before the problems start. Then we ask ourselves why we weren't better prepared.
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In the summer of November 2003 – when I was 14 years old – a friend accidentally shot me in my left arm. While lying in the hospital, I didn't realise what exactly happened. However, by the grace of God, I survived this traumatic ordeal, despite narrowly escaping death, amputation or paralysation.
When I left hospital, I had unanswered questions racing through my mind. Why did this happen? Why me? Why am I still alive? At times I even thought I would have been better off dead.
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Things happen
It took me more than a year to get out of the horrible depression that had engulfed and overwhelmed me. One day, I realised that these things do happen. We all have our own struggles and challenges. That's life. One important thing I learned, however, was that even though my circumstances and life may change, it cannot take away my choice on how to react on it.
From that day on I decided to be positive. Life is about choices and having a positive attitude doesn't just fall in one's lap – you need to make a choice to practice this in real life. It is like a muscle − at first, it's not that easy, but after a few seasons it becomes easier and one wonders why did you ever doubt yourself?
Your circumstances and past do not need to define you. I believe South Africa has many opportunities. Every time I see films where horses are used to fight in battles, I can almost see the unswerving bravery in their eyes. It is as if they are saying: "Do your worst, for I will do mine!"
Job's horse
In The Message (Job 39:19-25), Job once again questions God. He rightly wonders why his life turned out to be one big mess. Guess what? There's a whole passage in which God replies to Job by describing the horse – simply at its best:
"Are you the one who gave the horse his prowess
and adorned him with a shimmering mane?
Did you create him to prance proudly
and strike terror with his royal snorts?
He paws the ground fiercely, eager and spirited,
then charges into the fray.
He laughs at danger, fearless,
doesn't shy away from the sword.
The banging and clanging
of quiver and lance don't faze him.
He quivers with excitement, and at the trumpet blast
races off at a gallop.
At the sound of the trumpet he neighs mightily,
smelling the excitement of battle from a long way off,
catching the rolling thunder of the war cries."
Don't wallow
Some people wallow in self-pity and bitterness, which doesn't bring you very far in life. Stop complaining – you are alive, and your disability and/or circumstances are nothing compared to what you have – the gift of life. The world doesn't owe you a thing – it's your responsibility to make something out of your life.
You can be just like the horse every time when you face life – strike with terror, laugh at danger and race off at a gallop!
I've already run plenty of races, and there's more to come. Like the horse, I can now face it with the determination and courage that I had lacked before.
How will you run your race?
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