Easter Ride

This is what I dreamed about as a child. Sometimes I cannot believe that all the things I wished for, prayed for, have come to pass. When I was a young girl, all I could think about was horses, horses, horses. My family will attest to this. I prayed often for horses of my own. In God’s amazing style, He has outdone Himself and my dreams. I have a little farm of my own, a sweet family, a husband who loves God first, and horses. I do not say these things to boast about my life, but to acknowledge the extravagant goodness of my God. Yes, I have known loss, and deep pain. I have walked through sadness that thrust me into a darkness that I thought I would never escape. I have also lived through extended illness and physical pain, most of this within the last six years. But the mercies of God always outshine the darkness of this earth. Always.

He is so good, and I have to stretch my heart daily to receive His goodness. How my heart wants to shrink back and believe that this is not for me. That someone else surely deserves this more than I. Yes, I battle that daily. I have to nod my head in gratitude and say “thank you” to my sweet Father who pours out blessings like living water over my life.

This weekend we celebrated Easter with two of our three children at home. How we missed Katie who is still in North Carolina finishing school there. Annie and Johnny decided to go riding and as they rode out I could feel my heart straining again under the weight of blessing. Watching my children enjoy horses together felt like a kiss blown straight from Heaven. I smiled and breathed it in deeply. My God has once again blown past the boundaries I set for His goodness in my life. How He loves us.

Although I would not have wished for the sorrows I have known in this life, I will say they have made my heart a softer place for gratitude to grow. Life is so much sweeter on the other side of pain. Therefore I am grateful for the grief as well.

Happy Easter to all who read this post. May He who has risen from the dead to save you fill you with peace and comfort today, and may you know His extravagant love and blessings as well.

Ephesians 3:20,21 ~ “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”