One Day In Autumn by Teresa Wood

Though not quite 10 years old, that autumn in 1962, in his straw hat, western shirt, jeans and boots, Dan was all cowboy. This was no surprise since his family lived on a ranch in northern Idaho where cows and horses were part of everyday life. For months he had been training his first colt – a sorrel colored bundle of energy appropriately named Lightning.

Lightning was Dan’s constant companion. Whenever he wasn’t helping on the ranch, the warm days of summer would find him in the small pasture below their house working with the young colt. By the time the Aspen leaves were turning from green to gold, little Lightning was following Dan around like a puppy. His father Jim, an experienced horseman, had taught his son well. Together they looked forward to the day when Dan would be able to ride Lightning.

One Sunday afternoon as the family sat down to dinner, they heard the terrible screech of wires being stretched through staples on wooden posts. Immediately they knew what was happening. Lightning, who loved to race around the pasture, had accidentally run through the fence. Jim was the first one to reach him. There, on the ground, lay Dan’s pride and joy and he wasn’t breathing.

As Dan looked on in tears, his father worked heroically to save Lightning. With strength and gentleness, he blew air into the colt’s mouth and nostrils in a vain attempt to encourage him to breathe. When he could stand to watch no more, Dan ran back to the house. Finally, Jim came into his room, scooped his young son into his arms and held him as they cried together.

This event occurred almost 44 years ago, but it still brings tears to Dan’s eyes. He knows the love of his heavenly Father was modeled for him that day through an imperfect, earthly father. Lightning died, but a lasting picture of selfless, drastic and extraordinary love was painted for a little boy, the perfect love of God that would move to do whatever was needed to save.