“Life is difficult, but you are loved.”

These were the words the Horse spoke to the Boy after he fell into the water, having lost his grip while riding. The Boy apologized for not holding on tightly enough, but the Horse’s response was gentle and reassuring.

(From The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy)

LIFE IS DIFFICULT…
This truth is undeniable. Just when we find moments of security and peace, life often brings new challenges, testing our strength once again. Over time, I have come to see that life is not a fixed state—it is not something we can fully control or predict. Instead, it moves, it transforms, it teaches. Life is a verb, ever-changing, shaping us through both joy and hardship.

Like the Boy riding on the Horse, he was caught up in excitement and forgot to hold on tight. And so, he fell. Life is much like that—it often teaches us lessons when we least expect them, when our guard is down. Falling hurts, especially when we fall from the places where we once felt safe and confident.

…BUT YOU ARE LOVED!
I remember as a child, when I fell and scraped my knees, my mother was there. She held me in her arms, whispering words of comfort, and suddenly, the pain felt lighter. Not because it was gone, but because I wasn’t alone in it. Love has the power to heal. We all need love—not just in times of joy, but especially in times of struggle.

What we can offer to those we love is not always a solution, but our presence. They don’t always need advice or answers. They need someone who will sit beside them in the storm, who will listen without judgment, who will simply say:
“I love you no matter what. I am here with you. You are not alone. Cry if you must—I will cry with you. Lean on me.”

And in the moments when no one else is there, take heart—you are never truly alone. The Lord is with you, now and always. He has promised:
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Dear friend, remember this: You are deeply, unconditionally loved.
No matter how difficult life becomes, God walks with you every step of the way.

With love,

Little-pencil