BACK IN THE SADDLE

BY KENDRA NEW

My first horse show was when I was four and a half years old. Horses have always been a major part of my life. I feel this connection with them that is just soothing and inspiring. My relationship with God and practicing Christian Science are also huge parts of my life. And my most memorable healing actually involved horseback riding.

It was a Sunday afternoon, and I'd been studying for finals all weekend in the spring of my seventh grade year. So after church, my mom decided it was time for a break. To my surprise, she took me to try out a horse for sale. I was so happy and couldn't believe it! While I was riding in its owner's backyard pasture, the horse suddenly decided that he no longer wanted to listen to my commands. He began to take control, ran me into a tree, and I took a major fall.

As I lay on the ground, I felt scared and confused. But I began to pray, turning to God, my protector, for comfort. If there was one thing I did know, it was that I needed to hold on to the spiritual truths I was praying with instead of giving in to fear.