I started typing this out b4, and lost my power. We're using the generator right now.
On August 18, 1998, I was rear-ended. There was not a lot of damage to the car-less than $1000. But, because of how I was sitting at the time, I wasn't so lucky. I've had 3 operations, and have damage to the nerves in my lower right leg. (C4, C5 nerve irritation) When the neurologist learned that I like to horseback ride, he suggested it for therapy. Only problem being, I had no horse, had no time to ride, and didn't know anyone w/a horse, or even where to go riding. Plus, to be quite honest, I was afraid to try. I was finding that the majority of the things that I liked to do were extremely hard, if not impossible for me to do. I was afraid riding would be just one more thing I couldn't do.
I also have Meniere's Disease. (An inner ear disorder, I'm losing my hearing, and am subject to vertigo attacks) About 4 years after the accident, I was going thru a very dark period. Between the 2, I basically felt like there was nothing I could do that I enjoyed. I felt like all I was doing was working. I woke up one day, and HAD to ride. I called the only place I knew that had hack horses, explained what I was dealing with w/my leg, and the doctor's recommendation. They told me to come out, and they'd make sure I had a gentle horse, and we'd stay at a walk. So, I went out. To make a long story short, the guide fell off of his horse. I stayed on mine and brought it under control after his horse took off for the barn.
Then, a friend called up bragging that she got a horse b4 I did. It actually wasn't her's, she was just leasing it. A couple of months later, she got her own horse. So, I started to lease that horse. I leased her for 6 months, but decided not to lease her over the winter since I wasn't sure how much riding I'd actually be able to do. But, I wanted my own horse. So, I prayed-just 1x for a chestnut, Arabian mare. Not too long after that, the owner of the horse I had been leasing called me up. She wanted to know if I'd like to have a chestnut Arabian mare. I asked, how much? Her reply? Free. The owner had died, and the family just wanted to find a good home for her. I had her for just over 2 years, then lost her to colic. But, even w/that, God had a reason. Now I have Misty. I got her as an unhandled 5 yo Arabian mare. She's a better horse than the one I lost, and I've done all the training on her myself. And, while my leg will never be the same, I am able to do a lot of things that I could not do after the accident. So yeah, He hears.
It is always awesome to hear about answered prayer...these stories remind me that even though I might not get the answer I want, there is a plan and a reason. Thank you to everyone.
On my way to work one day, soon after I had been saved, I began to pray. I ended my prayer with something along the lines of "Dear Lord I beg you to help me be a better Christian. This is such a lifestyle change for me. Please show me a way to make this change easier. Amen."
I turned on my favorite morning radio preacher immediately after that. The first words out of his mouth were "The Good Lord never said being a Christian is easy."
What a lovely story! I am really enjoying reading all these!
Over the summer at work, I had been having a particularly bad day. I didn't feel too highly of myself because it seemed like all I did was work, my friends were always busy, and I was just having a mentally rough week as it was. While I was busy setting up shelves for a new product, a little old lady comes over to me like she's going to ask a question. Before she gets the question out of her mouth, she looks at me and says "You're a such a pretty little thing". I smiled and thanked her, then she said she couldn't remember what it was she was going to ask me and told me to have a good day. That's all I needed to turn my week completely around!
Chickerdoodle- I have started doing random things like that. It is such fun to say something happy to a total stranger. Generally it stops them in their tracks. You then see them walk away with a funny little smile on their faces.
I passed an older gentleman at a play once. He had a head full of GORGEOUS white hair. I mean it was stunning. Of course, I had to say "You have beautiful hair!" as I passed by. He was shocked. Later in the evening he walked past me and said "And you have lovely hair too!". He then walked away grinning. Clearly he was tickled with himself. It was a happy, happy little exchange between two strangers and made us both smile. It still makes me smile to remember how pleased he was with himself for returning the compliment.
So that's my new game now that I'm old as dirt. Random compliments to strangers. It'll make the world better (at least until my family decides I'm nuts and locks me in the loony bin!).