The Little Girl That Could

Once upon a time there was a beautiful little girl. She was loved by all, but especially loved by her daddy. One of the most enchanting things about this little girl was her beautiful big blue eyes. Sometimes, when people looked into them, it seemed as if they were looking into a little piece of heaven.

As time went on this little girl grew, as almost all little girls are fortunate enough to do. As she grew she developed a love of horses. She had a collection of miniature horses, had horse bedding, horse clothing, and horse pictures. But her favorite of all of these things were the horse lessons that she took. Nothing in the world made this little girl happier than being on a horse or taking care of a horse. Her smile would light up the night's sky and her eyes were twinkle brighter than any star seen above when she was with these magnificent creatures.

But then one day, for reasons still unknown, the light in those blue eyes started to fade to black. The little girl became scared to ride and no longer wanted to see her beloved horses. She was afraid of them. Afraid that she would fall off of them or could no longer care for them. She got rid of her bedding (at least she thought she did. Her mama kept hidden from her in a closet in hopes she would one day want to use it again), most of her horse pictures, and a lot of her horse clothing. What once brought her such joy now only made her very, very sad.

After some time had gone by she began to show signs of understanding that she could still have a life that included horses in it. The bedspread that was once more replaced on her bed and the horse clothes returned, but still no lessons.

Every-so-often her mama would ask her if she was ready to ride again and each time she would tell her mama that she was afraid until one day she replied that she was ready. After a long search and many months of looking for just the right teacher and just the right horse her mama found the perfect place for her to learn to ride again.

And so she did. And her mama cried as she saw this beautiful little girl doing something again that she once loved to do with all of her little heart. She saw the smile on her face and the beginning of a twinkle in her eye. It was a different smile and a different twinkle to be sure, but it was there none-the-less.

And after the lesson was over the little girl talked most of the way home about what fun she had and how much she couldn't wait to go back. And the mama was happy because she knows just how hard life is to be this little girls mama - she couldn't imagine how hard it was for the little girl to be herself - and instead of giving up and quitting the little girl was like the little engine that could. Once the seed was placed in her mind - 'I think I can, I think I can, I think I can' - she did. She was the little girl that could.

The End

You can tell she is nervous because she is playing with her fingers. This is at the beginning of the lesson. 

Not the best picture - I know. 

Still nervous...

Up she goes - she got on Bow (the horse's name) without any assistance from her teacher. I was pretty amazed. 

Any time Sarah would get too close to the fence Bow wold stop. This was her way of telling Sarah that she needed to turn a different way. 

Feeding Bow a treat after the lesson was over. 

Brushing her off and cooling her down after the ride is over.

***Just for a minute - close your eyes - you can see the light if there is a lamp on, but otherwise all is dark, right? Imagine that this is what you have for eyesight, but maybe a smudge better because sometimes you can see dark shapes of things that are in your way (but a lot of the time you can't and when you can see the shape you have no idea what the item actually is). Now imagine putting a saddle on a horse that way, getting on a horse, riding a horse by yourself with no help, getting off of the horse, taking off the saddle (with a little help), brushing down the horse when it is over, and then feeding the horse. THAT is what life is like for Sarah. I cannot imagine how scary new experiences are for her, can you?  Now imagine how proud yourself you would feel if you accomplished those things. If you were able to show yourself that even though your world is dark you can still do the things you love you just have to learn to do them again a bit differently. How many of us would be willing do try scary things over and over again? Things that were once normal and easy that are now hard and complicated. I don't know if I would - would you? THAT is why this little girl is the most magical amazing girl I know.