Who doesn’t like to ride a brightly painted pony on a whimsical carousel? There’s just something about a carousel pony that draws us in. Perhaps its his hooves in flight, his regal appearance, or the upbeat music that persuades us to hop up in the saddle and give it a go.
I know when our own children were small, I used to love riding beside them on a matching steed. It was pure joy to watch our kiddos’ excited little faces as they, too, were drawn into the fairy-tale.
As our ponies kept time to the happy, circus-like melody, it was ironic that those few, carefree moments seemed almost suspended. In some ways, I wanted them to be. I wanted those moments to last forever. I didn’t want the memory to play second fiddle down the road to a newer replacement. Living those moments with our youngsters were some of the best years of our lives! I wanted to savor the experience and fully appreciate the carousel ride with them.
It’s sometimes like that with writing, I’ve found. Hopping in the saddle, for me, has been the easy part. I enjoy doing what I do. The challenging part can come when outside factors distract me from the ride. Maybe you’ve experienced some of them: time infringements, family obligations, church functions, appointments, and various other things that vie for their time in the saddle, too.
What I try to do on a daily basis is to “hop in the saddle” early so I can leisurely ride for several hours. (In other words, write.) Eventually, my ride becomes a gallop, and later, after a rather windy jaunt, I’m forced to dismount.
I’ve learned to live in the moment, savor it, and revel in the art of memory-making. And an amazing thing I’ve found is that we don’t have to use a memory rating scale to categorize which memories are the best. They all have a place and serve a purpose. Some are important in our approach to life and in living life to its fullest, while others are, perhaps, gentle reminders that things don’t always go according to plan.
Hopping in the saddle is crucial if we’re to experience the ride, but knowing when to stay on and realizing when to get off (as in take a breather) are key, as well.
It’s encouraging to note that when we do find it necessary to rest for a while, God renews our strength as we prepare to go again.
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Hopping in and out of the saddle can zap our energy. Ways I try to combat this are: staying in God’s word, regular exercise, and being intentional with my “down time.” What tips can YOU share?
Comments 6
I see you’re up late too, Cynthia. I can never go right
to sleep after working an evening shift. I love this post.
You write with a beautiful imagery that makes me want
to hide away with my computer. It’s hard for me to “hop
in the saddle” as much as I’d like to. Balancing children’s
needs for hugs and story time with house work and errands,
not to mention writing is a challenge. I look forward to the
days when I’ll have more time, but I still want to savor the
moments I have with them as wee munchkins. 🙂 I know
that writing is something God has called me to do, and He
will be faithful to either provide me the time to do it. Thanks
for such a great post. 🙂
Author
I well remember those days when our children were little, Tanya, and believe me, now that they’re older I do miss those times of such innocent, childhood wonder. I also remember wanting so desperately to write and just not having enough hours (or strength) left in my days to do it. Now, I have other time constraints so it’s a bit of a trade-off. The trick is to prioritize and make the most of the available hours we have in the day. It sounds like you’re a wonderful mother! You’re going to do great!
Thanks for the affirmation, Cynthia. It is all about prioritizing; you
are so right. I hope and pray that I always keeps my priorities
in the proper order. 🙂
I loved the carousel as a child. It’s one of the few rides that don’t invoke motion sickness.. 🙂
Author
Oh, so you have it, too, Patti? 🙂
Yes, I’m not much fun at the amusement park. But I’m good at holding everyone’s “stuff.”