I am constantly amazed at how much in the world there is for me to learn about....to learn of .....to learn to be. I love to learn...and try ....so I am very blessed that..... for me......my four footed/hoofed family members are often God's chosen "tools of higher learning" for me. Teaching me lessons of life and lessons of heart that are at times quite in your face...others quite subtle and simplistic....... I want to share one of my recent epiphany's....courtesy of Sassy.
A couple of weeks ago, Sassy and I embarked on one of our adventures. Upon arriving at our destination, we were exploring our surroundings and she discovered a mirror....or more precisely, she discovered herself in the mirror. There were other horses present....Unfamiliar horses.....yet, she ignored them.... mesmerized by the mirror. She moved a bit closer to me.....then softly blew on the mirror. *Hello in horse language to her reflection* To my "inner little girl and of course my inner photographer" delight ....the sight she created momentarily made my breath catch...it was a beautiful image! Her ears perked......she arched her long, graceful neck and looked from the right.....blew softly again.... and then from the left......quite obviously pleased by what she was seeing and the reaction of the "mare in the mirror"! For horses, there is no separation of how they act from how they feel! What you see is EXACTLY what you get........
Horses are very, very social creatures...their survival mentally, physically, and emotionally depends on it. There is a base programming for them to be part of the herd....whether all members of the herd play nice or not. Sassy likes her herd/safety zone...so for her to ignore the other horses,especially unfamiliar ones was shocking! I pulled my "emergency" camera out of my pocket....snapped a shot and we continued with our adventure. Before leaving...I removed her lead rope, after a minute of standing stock still beside me...we walked to the mirror again....and she was again quite enthusiastic about the reflection!
Now, as the mother of a sixteen year old daughter (and a former teenager myself several decades ago)there is probably not a day that the sun rises and sets that "image" issues aren't or haven't been a part of a discussion or thought process. I am also a master certified personal fitness trainer....so I have.... as a career path.... dealt with "ideals" of body image. The mind is the biggest obstacle to be overcome when a person wants to change body image and their physique. The body naturally follows where the mind leads. We humans place an incredible amount of importance on aesthetics....on what we or others "see" us as in the mirror. It is.... on some days.....heartbreaking to see/hear our children or friends or self deal with these types of situations....and on days of good experiences.....a source of joy! Even as adults there is such an emphasis that some lives are made miserable by the subject or hearts are made hard from envy of another....lives wasted by attempting to be something they are not or never finding peace or contentment. So many "look in the mirror" and don't like what they see.... Sadly, they don't find a friend.
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me… For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
At the time of Sassy's reflection interaction....I was caught up in the moment....delighting in her delight (it is an image that will forever be seen in my minds eye) ....and the AMAZING lesson she was demonstrating by simply BEING what God made her to be.....flew right over my one active blonde brain cell....... BUT......that one brain cell of mine has the gift of replay.......and as I replayed the events of that day........WOW!!
“For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” - Jeremiah 29:11
She was a shining example for what we all need to do....be accepting of ourselves and each other. Sassy was not only at ease and content with what she was seeing....but had found a friend in that "Mare in the Mirror"
PS....Sassy is getting a "Stall Mirror" :)))))))
