The young brown colt had not been named, nor had his owner been able to get close enough to touch him.

My four children and I went out to visit the owner of the colt, and see the rest of her horses. As soon as ten-year-old Joy saw the colt, it was “love at first sight.” She asked permission to go out and see the horse. Watching Joy slowly approach the little one was akin to watching a “horse whisperer.” The colt did not move away or seem afraid as she reached out her hand to stroke his soft coat. The owner was amazed by Joy’s natural ability with horses. She told us that the colt’s grand–sire was a champion cutting horse named “Poco Bueno.” He was a famous American Quarter Horse.

When the colt was old enough to be weaned from its mother and “green broke,” the owner called to say that she wanted to give our children this beautiful quarter horse. Joy was “over the moon” with excitement. Ultimately, she was the only one who wanted to ride him. She named him, “Falcon.” I wasn’t sure why she chose that name, except that it was the name of the command module that her father would be flying in for the Apollo 15 moon mission. When I asked her why, she said, “Because the Peregrine Falcon is one of the world’s fastest birds.” It seemed to me then, that she was saying she wanted to ride a fast horse, like her father wanted to fly fast jets.

As she raced him through the fields, Joy’s hair and Falcon’s mane blew backward in the wind. How exhilarated they both were. Falcon needed to run, and Joy loved to ride on her fast quarter horse.

When we moved from our rental home into our new house, we had no barn or fenced field for Falcon. We had to board him, which made us all sad. Nevertheless, Joy’s heart was with her horse and she rode him as often as she could.

While reminiscing about the times that I watched my daughter with her horse, I thought about a scripture written by the “weeping prophet,” Jeremiah. His heart was broken because he foresaw the calamities and suffering that would come upon his people, and his nation. God gave Jeremiah prophetic words and visions that he was expected to tell to the people, as well as to the king. Obediently, he relayed the messages, but no one wanted to hear or do what he advised. He felt rejected and friendless. He received nothing but opposition from everyone who heard his prophecies. The apostasy of his nation as it practiced idolatrous rituals, and refused to repent or turn back to GOD, grieved his soul. Through tears and self-pity he

complained to GOD. Then GOD spoke: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses?” (The Amplified Bible).

GOD was saying (paraphrased): Yes Jeremiah, I understand why your heart is heavy, and you feel forsaken and alone. When situations get difficult, are you going to run to the comforts of your home where things are easier? Retreating would be easy, but I didn’t call you to a life of leisure. I called you to live a righteous life – a life of purpose. Your destiny is greater than you can imagine. Now when problems arise, and you are fatigued because of opposition, you want to quit. Jeremiah, if crowds of perverse renegades have wearied you, what will you do when the battle gets intense? What will you do when you need to race against the swift and determined warhorses of excellence?

Difficult situations will arise, but remembering that GOD is with us in battle gives us the confidence that we will, in the end, be victorious. The example of Jeremiah’s life is a challenge to us, to live a life of excellence. His story encourages us to live a godly life, not an easier one.