Bridge Called Hope by Kim Meeder Read Free Book Online Page A

actual injury was … once it was fully exposed. Yet, we both clearly understood that this was the only way to bring about a purposeful healing.

    Little Bear’s damage was so extensive that his injuries took
nine months
to heal. But heal they did.
    Our young colt had survived a bear attack at what was probably only weeks after his birth. He survived being badly injured even while separated from his mother, who was his only source of comfort, protection, and love. With a large, gaping wound, he walked right past the searching eyes of those who were seeking obvious external defects. And in a trailerwith dozens of other infants who were healthy and twice his size, he was moved 1,200 miles … without being crushed.
    In nearly every aspect of his life today, he stands as one who has both figuratively and in flesh and blood defied what most would consider impossible odds.
    When “someone needs to do something” rose up and stood before Virginia and Vicki, they quietly understood that on this day … “someone” was them. They took an unlikely chance on something they believed in with full understanding that what is impossible with man … 
is
possible with God.
    True to his heritage, Little Bear now stands close to sixteen hands and weighs in at approximately 1,400 pounds of pure buckskin “play”! Even though his hamstring was compromised by his injury, he has apparently recruited surrounding tissue and remains completely sound.
    Today, our “golden boy” still stands as one of the most unique and favored horses among those who come to visit. He is living proof that sometimes what seems unsurvivable … 
can
be survived. His life continues to show us that it’s okay to pushforward, mud and all, through what is painful … to find genuine healing.

    “Genuine healing” now lives on my ranch. Daily he proceeds to emanate gentle truth that encourages those around him to pick themselves up and keep trying … even when the way is dark.
    His incredible story of survival calls those who are searching and reminds them that faith, when it is authentic, requires us to act and live in the shadow of what we know is already true.
    Real faith begets action. When we acknowledge that everything we do has an effect on someone else, either good or bad, it opens our eyes and shores us up against how easy it is to become lulled into thinking that our actions are really just too small to matter much. We clearly see the consequences that when we choose to do nothing … nothing is what we will reap.
    At one time or another, all of us have been in a situation where we heard our own thoughts shouting,
Someone needs to do something here
, or
Someone really needs to step up and help.
    Real faith encourages us that sometimes … 
someday
is today, and that
someone
 … is you.

    Ella, age 4, when calling the horses to the fence:
“Okay, everyone who wants me to pet them …
raise your hands … c’mon, raise ’em up!”

A ll I could do was wonder as I looked at the three-year-old colt that stood before me. As a pale, palomino Appaloosa draped with a long white mane and tail, he was truly a rare and spectacular beauty. Yet my eyes continued to fall to his feet; my perplexity was completely centered on one question: “How can this young man even stand on feet such as these?” I have seen much equine hardship in my years of horse rescue and rehabilitation, but nothing like the four hooves that balanced in front of me.
    His pale, almost ethereal golden color stood out in sharp contrast against his hideously purple hooves. It was obvious that not long ago, this youngster sustained such significant trauma to all four of his hoof capsules … that they responded by filling with blood. I could only imagine crushing all of my toenails … then trying to stand on tip-toe. With every searing heartbeat, his pain must have throbbed like unison hammer blows to each hoof.
    I ran my hand up under his forelock and rubbed his