Pity

This is a true story I read many years ago and God brought it to my mind today. I don't remember the specifics but I can give you the gist of the story.

There was a woman who had her leg amputated, but she wasn't about to let that stop her. She was a professional equestrian. (She rode horses.) She was often involved in horse shows riding a variety of horses.  She wrote about her experiences and the prejudice against her because of her missing leg. She wrote that whenever a horse threw her, the crowd would typically respond with pity.

"Oh, that poor girl. That mean horse threw her."

This woman would pick herself up and brush herself off. Her attitude about the situation was completely different.

"That is not a mean horse. I made a mistake."

This woman felt a little frustrated with the crowd because if the crowd had their way, they would have taken care of the poor cripple girl and kept her away from the mean horse. But what she really wanted to do was get back on the horse and prove her mastery and skill.

I know how this woman felt. I hate pity. I'm tired of being taken care of. I'm tired of my mistakes being blamed on society.

Yes, my mom was overprotective. But she didn't spend my money. I did. If I made bad choices in spending, I'm the one who made the mistake.

Yes, my dad was not around as much as I would have liked. But he didn't choose my career path. I did. If I made bad choices in my career, I'm the one who made the mistake.

There is a long list of people who have hurt me over the years. My ex-wife, so-called friends, counselors and teachers, and doctors. They have their share of blame for some things in my life but they do not deserve all the credit.

Now please save your pity. Step aside and let me back on the horse so I can show you that I'm the master of my fate.

The only thing I ask for is good teachers to teach me how to do things correctly. I do not want pity to protect me from learning. I do not want pity to keep me away from the horse. I do not want pity to do it for me. I do not want pity to take care of me.