Lucky Stars

This season is filled with all sorts of 'lucky' symbols: horseshoes, four-leaf clovers, the number seven, and more. 

So many wish for good luck, and take it as positive signs when they see symbols like that. I can't blame them, I've been there. Seven happens to be my favorite number, too.

However, we'd all be amiss to truly believe that those symbols are the reason that any of us have any luck in this life.

The wise ones know that absolutely none of it is luck; it's all God's will and grace.

With that in mind, I'm reminded just how 'lucky' I really am. Even if I don't exactly believe in luck, I love the concept of counting your lucky stars. A cutesy, fancy way to name the act of counting your blessings.

Some people count sheep at night, but I pray myself to sleep while counting those blessed stars.

People say to start each day with a grateful heart, and that sentiment has not been lost on me. I’m a firm believer that it doesn't have to be Thanksgiving day in order to be grateful.

In fact, if you're breathing, there's something to be grateful for. It just gets better and better when you add in those you love, the roof over your head, and the shoes on your feet.

Take a second and take stock of three things that you can be grateful for at this very moment.

If any of those reasons were living, breathing, people, have you told them how grateful you are for them? They'd probably love to hear it.

Most importantly, we should be thanking our Creator who gave it all to us in the first place. Thanking God is such a beautiful thing.

If you do it enough, it becomes a habit, and that will eventually grow into a beautiful practice of thanking God for the things that don't go your way or simply feel ‘unlucky’ in the moment. It doesn’t make the ‘no’s hurt any less, but it gives you comfort in knowing that His plan is greater than yours.

That's been one of the craziest things to grow into in my faith journey.The idea of thanking God for things going the opposite way that I prayed for would have been a foreign concept to me even three years ago.

I still have my moments, but the growth in this area has been truly exponential.

For example, one of my horses, Palmetto, was being leased out by a nearby lesson barn to be used in their program. It was a mutually beneficial thing that I was super excited about. From what I understood, things had been going well, but then I got the call that they were terminating the lease for a few different reasons. I had prayed so hard that the lease would work out, and I was a bit confused to receive that message. But oddly enough, my response was very grateful despite the disappointment.

Immediately after reading the message, I just remember thinking, "Well, God must think I'll get better use of her here. It’s about time that I get back in the saddle and stop making excuses, anyway." 

I’d be lying if there wasn’t a tiny moment of worry regarding what happened, and the logistics of her coming back on such short notice. But I know that I can take comfort in the fact she’s safe, and that it’ll all work out in good time.

All in all, I'm grateful for the time she had there, and for everything that she learned there. I'm also super grateful that she'll be back home for the spring and I'll have the opportunity to go and ride. Quite frankly, I'll have no excuse not to.

Add that to my list of lucky stars.

In addition, I'm grateful for anyone who may be reading this. I pray that you find my words helpful or hopeful - hopefully both, but I'll take what I can get.

I pray that you'll also start each day with a grateful heart and that those little lucky stars won't get lost on you, either.

Think of your life as a clear night sky, and each of your blessings as the individual stars. As you take the time to name each of them, they become posted in the sky. The blessings that go hand in hand form the most beautiful constellations. Picture any miracles as shooting stars - brief and unexpectant, but always showing up exactly when you need them most. 

The more, the merrier. The more specific, the brighter. 

Let God be your moon, lighting up the night; providing light in what should be the darkest of places. After all, it's the light of the moon that provides the light, and perspective, to see the stars in the first place.

Until next week,

— E. Byers, author of The Grassy Laine