Whisper it to thy saddle-bow...

“If thou hast a fearful thought, share it not with a weakling;

whisper it to thy saddle-bow and ride forth singing.”

-King Alfred the Great (Britain, AD 800s)

Many days are harder than others.  But what do you do when those days come?  Do you rant and rave about all the injustices fluttering in and out of your life?  Do you retaliate against the plaguing evils by thrashing those closest and dearest to you merely because they are so?  Or do you bottle it up within, refusing to acknowledge it as a reality of life?  Hoping that by not giving it a voice it will disappear? Now, I do not claim to be one who has suffered immensely for I have not, nor am I one who has been innocent from the previously described actions.  But it’s those daily doubts that get to me, chilling me to the bone at times and “making my heart faint within me” (King David, Middle East, 900s BC).  Gnawing away at the soul until you become a fraction of the confident person that once existed.  But take heart!  You are not the first person, nor will you be the last, to be trapped under this gloomy life cloud.  As a believer, there are so many promises that NEVER fail to cut to “the joint and marrow” of a situation; these are the Truths to which we must cling when all around us feels as though crumbling.  Like King Alfred said, “…whisper it to thy saddle-bow and ride forth singing;” Our loving, omnipotent Father hears our every laugh and sigh thus giving us cause to ride forth singing on whatever trail ahead our path does lie.

Have I fear that Thou dost know?

Fear of weakness, fear of failing

(Though Thy power is all prevailing);

Or a haunting fear of bringing

Care to others?

Share it not with a weakling,

Whisper it to thy saddle-bow,

And ride forth singing.

Many fears can murmur low,

Fear of ills the future holdeth

(Though indeed Thy grace upholdeth),

Dulling fear and fear sharp-stinging,

Fear that tortures;

Share it not with a weakling,

Whisper it to thy saddle-bow,

And ride forth singing.

­-Amy Carmichael (India, 1800s)

TanyaLynn: USA, 2013