Taking a break at the Lake
This past week was a whirlwind!! I hosted a Extreme Cowboy Race at the Lake! We had 78 competitors and an amazing time. During the day the weather was perfect, however at night we had Extreme Kansas weather, with high winds, rain, lighting, and hail!! Very Extreme Camping weekend!!
We took all of our horses, including Tuckers Amazing Grace & Hopes Song. They both did great spending time socializing with new horses and people. They are becoming great travelers and getting used to the life on the road which will prepare them for the long trip back to Fort Worth in September.
On Sunday I gave a clinic on teaching your horse how to face their fears and handle their emotions using performance training and obstacle work. We had a great time. I also taught 7 horses the “Come over Cue”, the mounting block cue! Tuckers Amazing Grace got a front row seat in the pen we used as a barrier to teach the ‘Come over Cue”. She not only got to watch and learn, but be socialized with other new horses. She has a tendency to be a little possessive of her own family group and protective about her territory. The best way to help her over come these insecurities is to socialize her allot.
Graces leg is healing well and she is coming along under saddle. My knee is in pretty bad shape, but Graces great disposition is allowing me to continue her training and protect my knee. I went to see a specialist this week who has come up with a plan to reconstruct my knee. The process will take at least two surgeries, if not three. I am looking at trying to squeeze in the first stage of surgery on my knee in the next couple of weeks, which means I will have to take four weeks off from training! I am hoping to have six weeks to finish the girls up before the makeover. This is not the plan I had for this year, but Gods plans are not always the same as what we plan. Just like Tuckers Amazing Grace being hurt, wasn’t part of My plan. God has a plan for Grace and I……I am thankful for her quiet and willing spirit as she surrenders her fears and trusts in me. I am trying to have a quiet and willing spirit too and allow God to work in my life as I approach this very scary obstacle in my life. Tuckers Amazing Grace and I will learn to face the future together one step at a time. From the moment of birth, we are taught that successful people never give up. Yet, today I read this story below that helped me understand that the paradoxical secret to true success is, that true success can only be found in complete surrender.
Dr. Billy Graham tells the story of a little child who was playing with a very valuable vase. The child put his hand into the vase but could not pull it out. His father tried to free the little boy’s hand, but couldn’t. They were thinking of breaking the vase when the father said, “Son, let’s try one more time. Open your hand and hold your fingers out really straight and then pull.” The look of alarm on the boy’s face surprised the dad until the little boy explained, “Oh no, Father. I can’t hold my fingers like that. If I did, I would drop my penny.”
Many of us are like that little boy – holding onto something that is keeping us from letting go and letting God have His way in our lives. It doesn’t really matter what that something is. If it is keeping us from surrendering to God, it is our captor and we are its hostage.
Jesus longs for us to come to Him in total surrender. Not because He wants to win or prove His power, but because He longs to set us free. Matthew 22:37 goes straight to the heart of surrender and abandonment when it says, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’” Let’s take a closer look at the meaning of this verse:
“Heart” means “thought and emotion.”
“Soul” means “life or whole person.”
“Mind” means “understanding.”
In other words, to truly experience God, we must lay down everything. Every thought and emotion, every dream and plan, every bit of human knowledge or understanding, our past, present and future – everything ! (a segment from my morning devotions “Girlfriends in God”.)
We will keep keeping on. Surrendering to God’s plans. Ryan, my dear husband promises to be a better student…:) lol and continue “Hopes Song’s” training. He is such a great partner in life and we are having fun working together on the mustangs!! Stay tuned to see how this all turns out in September!! God bless you all!!
Tuckers Amazing Grace sponsored by: Tucker Trail Saddles www.tuckersaddles.com
Special Thanks also goes to Purina Mills, Roy Frey Western Wear, & Meriden Animal Clinic!!
Go to www.cindybranham.com for more information!!
Clicked on your blog to find out more about your knee…got the impression at Denise’s that all was not well in that department…and once again God sent me a message that I really needed to hear. I have been “holding onto something that is keeping (me) from letting go and letting God have His way in (my life).” and this devotion helped me see that in a way that really hit home. THANK YOU for just being you…always sharing your life to help others…whether it’s horse sense or “human” sense!!
Fussing with this knee surgery right in the middle or training these two young ones is surely not what you are wanting to do but your faith is strong and you are surrounded by people who love you and who will care for you through this. Take care, Cindy and know that I am praying for you and yours! Love, Debbie