There are times when I am in Silk’s stall that I feel some sort of mysterious vibes. As if my horse can read my thoughts, I find answers or insights to things that have been bothering me.
I was brushing Silk tonight and trying to fan the flames of hope. I confess that I was feeling pretty low. It’s been a challenging week, and tomorrow we’re going up to the nursing home to have Thanksgiving dinner there with my mom. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love to cook all the recipes that have been passed along to me from family and friends. I get very sentimental when I look back at all the good memories. This year, we considered making a second turkey dinner at home the day after, but it felt like that would only remind us more that we missed my mom. In the spirit of living with what is, we’re going to try to make this the most fun Thanksgiving that the nursing home has ever had.
I know that we’re not the only ones who have had our share of difficulties and disappointments this year. There are friends of mine who have lost loved ones or are financially flailing and are really struggling with the holidays. I look for little sparks of hope wherever I can find them.
While I was rubbing Silk’s soft, thick coat, a thought popped into my head, almost like she was having a conversation with me. I suddenly recalled that she had been beaten and abused before I bought her. People really hurt her and treated her like a machine. She spent the first ten years of her life in a box stall, never getting turned out in a pasture. Occasionally, she was allowed to kick up her heels in a round pen, but no one ever let her be anything but a showpiece. Yet, she managed to never lose her spirit, and life got better for her. For the last twelve years, Silk has been loved and pampered and free to run and eat grass and the best hay I can buy for her. Standing next to her in the darkness, I felt like she was reminding me that there are going to be rocky patches, and we just have to get through them. And fortunately, we have each other.
Hold on to what is good,
Even if it's a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe,
Even if it's a tree that stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do,
Even if it's a long way from here.
Hold on to your life,
Even if it's easier to let go.
Hold on to my hand,
Even if someday I'll be gone away from you.
A Pueblo Indian Prayer
12 comments:
Happy Thanksgiving from Canada. Lovely prayer. It's a tough time of the year, but hang in there. It will get better. I usually do my donations this time of year...it always makes be feel better. Enjoy your time with your family and your horses.
Horses remind us to live, really live, in the present.
It's their greatest gift to us, isn't it?
Enjoy Thanksgiving (let's just hope they let you sit at the grown ups table! :) )
Lovely! Thank you! And have a great Thanksgiving!
Victoria...you are so good at expressing what many people feel. The poem is perfect too. I know you will make the most of this day, because that is who you are. Create a turkey dinner some other day.
All the best to you and your family.
Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. The most important thing is that you are all together to share it.
Thanks for reminding me that we can have these "conversations" with horses. Though your Thanksgiving won't be the same as it has been, I'm sure it will be magical.
Hope your day is wonderful - I know you'll bring much joy to the rest home and to your mom.
This can be a difficult time of year, even when our circumstances are stable and comfortable.
There are so many expectations... aren't we fortunate to have our horses who help to keep us grounded?!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
I'm sorry to hear that you are struggling but Glad you have your girls to help get you through. There's something so healing about horses.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Victoria.
Being that I am surrounded by Indian Pueblos, 19 of them to be exact, this really speaks to me. Especially with all that I have been through over the past few years. It would be so easy to just give up.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful poem and for talking about the relationship you have with your beautiful horse, too.
Happy Thanksgiving,
~Lisa
Hey Victoria,
This is a beautiful post, and a wonderful poem.
I always think that one of the best gifts you've given to Silk is to allow her to raise and be with her daughter. How very rare that is in the (domestic) animal world.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving, as well.
I love your blog - you make sense! So many people don't truly understand that animals do speak if you just listen, but you do. Thank you for the prayer - it was just what I needed right now.
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