Letters to my Children

When I was a litttle girl my Dad bought and sold horses as a side business. There was nothing better than to watch those horses, I loved them. But no one loved them more than your Grandpa. He was particularly drawn to those animals that other dealers shied from. The bargin horses. Horses that would otherwise be sent to the cannery. It were those horses that my dad sought out, bought, and saved. He had a way with them. There were countless horses over the years, but none as special as Woody. I'll never forget the day Woody was brought home, never forget the flies buzzing around his gaping oozing wound.
At one time he was a ranch horse and still would have been if it hadn't been for the accident. His first owner had taken him out in the bush for a ride then tied him to the horse trailer. Woody veered back breaking his lead which sent him tumbling down a hill. By the time Woody reached the bottom he was back on his feet, lept over an uprooted tree and continued to run. The damage had been done. His owner took him to the vet to have the branch removed, but for the following year the wound continued to drain and ooze pus, never healing completely. The owner had finally given up on Woody and decided to shoot him. It was on this very day that my Dad was out looking for horses to buy. He visited a certain farmer, but didn't find what he was looking for. Before he left the Farmer informed Dad of his neighbor who was about to shoot his wounded horse. Dad headed immediately to the neighbors, took one look at Woody, asked the price, paid the $100 and took Woody home.
Woody's mane was dull, his eyes lacked life, he was wrecked. A second trip to the vet provided the answer to the oozing wound. Another peice of the branch was found deep inside surrounded by infection. Once it was removed the wound healed after months of special care and attention. Woody was back, restored to full health and went on to live a very full life.
There will be times in your life when you will want to struggle against the very thing that keeps you safe, just like Woody struggled against his lead. As your mother my greatest hope, my biggest goal is to nuture within you confidence and security. So you know why certain guidelines are set before you, to keep you safe. No one is immune to temptation no one is perfect (especially not me, now matter what your dad tells you). And you know, you may just fall sometime in your life, you may struggle against the truths you've been taught. Struggle so hard that you fall. It happens. Just know that when you think all is lost, there is someone who will interced for you just as Grandpa did for Woody. Our Saviour can heal all wounds, take away all pain and has set the perfect example for us. Know that your Mom and Dad will be there for you always. To love you, to cherise you, regardless of the choices you make. You children are my light, my life, my everything, my best friends. Really. Really, Really.