When I first started learning to team rope I was horrible. Team roping was a difficult sport to begin learning in your late 40s. I had very little talent, but a whole lot of try. I needed partners to participate and most of the guys I met were not interested in helping out a beginner.
I soon learned that at draw pots you can always get partnered up, (they have no choice). I was heading back then and at one draw pot I drew a hard running steer that I caught at the end of the arena. I turned it and my partner roped it clean. He was good and was excited that we had caught and that we were getting another steer. He complimented my riding ability, the speed of my horse and for throwing a great loop. I felt my confidence soar. It was great to have someone believe in me.
He and I went on to practice together and then to win several more ropings. Every time he rode into the heel box I felt confident. I roped my best when he was my partner. He had great confidence in me, more than I had in myself. I would look at the heel side just to make sure we were good to go and the intense look on his face let me know that we were going to do well.
I had forgotten about that feeling of confidence until just recently. I was heeling for a friend who is starting out later in life, trying hard to be good and having a great time at it. As I rode into the heel box he said “I feel so confident when you ride in there” and later “I will rope with you anytime or anywhere.” Smiling to myself, I knew exactly what he was feeling. That kind of confidence is contagious! He could sense that I believed in him and trusted that he was going to give it his very best shot. I heard recently that “when trust is low, anxiety is high.” If you want to help your partner have confidence, trust and believe in him.
In the Bible Philippians 1:6 it says “being confident of this very thing that He (Jesus) that has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” God believes in you and has great confidence in you that you will come into a relationship with Him. His confidence in you is incredible and contagious. His partnership with you is everlasting and He will always believe in you. Your confidence will soar in every area of your life as you partner with Him and you can believe that He always wants the very best for you. Rope great and have a wonderful Christmas, after all it’s His birth we celebrate.
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