Getting back up

As a {homeschooling} momma, I'm used to teaching my kids.  I've taught them the alphabet, how to add numbers, the continents and oceans.  I've taught them how to brush their teeth and how to throw trash in the garbage.  I've spent my life as a parent teaching them.  When that role is flipped, when my kids teach me something, it's neat and exciting and such a blessing.  When they teach me, it's usually a BIG life lesson. 

Cade has been riding horses for about seven or eight months now.  He loves it.  He loves horses.  He loves hugging horses!  His favorite horse, the one he rides most often, is Cochise.  He's comfortable with Cochise; he feels safe on him.  They make a great team.

For a brief period of time, Cade was having to ride other horses.  They all have a different feel to them and Cade's teacher wanted him to experience that.  One day, he was riding Charlie.  Charlie's trot is not smooth like Cochise's.  As a matter of fact, Charlie started to sidestep and stumbled a bit while trotting.  Cade lost his balance and fell.  I watched my baby boy fall off a horse!  My heart stopped.  I held my breath.  Thank God, Cade hopped up and said he was okay.  He was scared, though.  The entire right side of his body was covered in dirt where he fell.  And he was holding his wrist.

Then he did the bravest thing.  He got back up on that horse!  He didn't want to.  But he did, even though he was scared and hurting.  He finished his lesson with Charlie.  He went back the next week and fought through the fear and worry and panic.  I'm proud to say that within a couple of lessons, he was back to trotting.  No panic, no fear.  Just joy!

How many times have I given up out of fear?  How many times have I been hurt or scared and run away?  How many times have I held myself back from something I would love because I'm afraid?  Too many, unfortunately.   I've lost out on too much.  I want to have courage and face my fears.  I want to overcome my hurts. 

We've all heard the old adage, "If at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again."  My son lived it.  And he left a lasting impression on this momma's head and heart!