Mrs Hilton: Faith, Growth and Change

When I think back to where I was a year ago, it seems surreal.  Living on a 600 acre horse farm in Florida for ten years, the nature of my work changed with the seasons.  In the winter, there were horses and people everywhere.  There was a horse show to attend every weekend if a person wanted to.  But in the summer, most of the people and horses retreated north to cooler weather.  I was the only trainer residing on the farm, and had a handful of local horses to ride early in the morning before the heat and humidity just grew too unbearable.

In the afternoons, I worked on my book, “Horses Take Us Higher.”  The writing took over a year; it gave me a useful outlet on those endless summer afternoons when the thunderstorms rolled through and the humidity was enough to strangle you.   I remember being excited to see my project coming to completion as the summer came to an end, the rain subsided, and the northern horses returned.

Another of my uses of alone time included intentional prayer and meditation;  I would sit in the quiet of my living room floor, legs crossed, eyes closed, and talk to God.  What I could see more clearly than ever, having spent a fair bit of time examining my past for the writing of the book, was that that God had never failed me.  He always had a direction in mind, and provided opportunities at times when I needed them most.  I sat in silence, expressing my gratitude for His faithfulness, and feeling a deep connection to Him in my heart.

Then I got to exploring the future and what I was supposed to do with the experience I had gathered.  In the quiet and stillness, I formed and named my deepest requests that had been pushed back for so long, and made them known to God.  The desire for marriage and partnership came up; I wanted someone to experience the joys and trials of life alongside.  It had always been a desire, but each time it seemed to be shaping up I’d override God’s will, believing I had found “the one,” and each time coming up empty handed.  After a while, I’d just plumb given up on looking and focused on my career.

But there in the stillness, I opened up to God in a different way.  I was being honest about what was on my heart, and listening for a reply.  No taking over and doing, just sitting still with the intention.  The reply didn’t come in words, but in a feeling of assurance.  I didn’t know the details and couldn’t see the future, but, maybe for the first time ever, I truly believed, with joy and expectation in my heart, that God had something amazing in store for me yet.

Fast forward to present day and I’m two weeks away from marrying my best friend!  Life with Adam is both fun and challenging.  I’m honored to be his wife and partner,  life is so much more enjoyable when we’re working together.  There is no question in my mind that God placed us together, and Adam’s story is equally as revealing of His handiwork.   For Adam and I, God is certainly using our growth in forming our relationship.

Currently, we are finishing remodeling our house, and plans to develop a horse training facility are in the works.  In the meantime, our horses are at a wonderful facility about a mile and a half from home.  I’ve already had a few horses in for training.   This fall, I’ll be accepting more horses for training, I look forward to teaching and getting out to some dressage and western dressage shows.  But first, we’re taking some time to enjoy married life and to celebrate!!!

The takeaway: We all face turning points and change in life, but how we prepare and respond to them is key.  Perhaps the biggest challenge is getting to the place where we value our faith enough to put it into practice.  To ask without concern of the outcome, to believe so much so that joy fills the heart, to act as if it has already happened.  To resist saying “I’ll be happy when…” and to let the peace that surpasses all understanding fill us now.