These may be the dog days of summer, but I’ve been going full speed the last few weeks. Just couldn’t seem to make time to blog or even to keep my Twitter account up to date (@maureengallatin, if you are a twitterer, too).

I’m redoing my website, and anyone who has done that can tell you it’s a bit like a kitchen remodel — the project gets bigger as you get into it, costs more than you budgeted, and requires that you live in disarray for longer than you thought you would. However, I’m coming down the home stretch, and before long you’ll be able to read about all the exciting Inspired by Horses projects at http://www.inspiredbyhorses.com.

One of the most exciting is my work with Molly the Pony. You may have read the story on the Internet about the POA  that survived Katrina, was attacked by a dog, and later had a lower leg amputated. Molly now wears a prosthesis. She is truly inspirational — but it’s not because she’s three-legged. Molly has a special way of interacting, particularly with disabled or disadvantaged people. She doesn’t just stand waiting to be petted, but she greets them, nuzzles them, and lets them know they are valuable.

I caught up with Molly and her owner Kaye in Kentucky, where she was on her way to visit Ohio State University Veterinary School and various hospitals and children’s centers (Ronald McDonald House, etc.)  Kaye later brought Molly to my home town, where we had a “meet and greet” and Kaye and I worked on various aspects of a sponsorship package and a book. Right now, we are scouting for a truck and trailer that Molly can use for the coming year, as well as covering some of Molly’s other needs.

As if that wasn’t enough, I’ve been working on the Equestrian Ministries International meeting, which is coming up September 11 and 12th in Lexington, Ky. Sept 11 will be at Asbury College and Sept 12 at the Kentucky Horse Park — two great locations. Would love to have any of you join us. And there are a few other “inspired” projects that I’ll tell you about in coming weeks. Send me an email if you’d like any info on Molly or EMl (Maureen@ inspiredbyhorses.com).

There is an observation I’d like to share. Everywhere I’ve gone, I’ve met great horse people — people who go out of their way to show hospitality, offer to help, or listen to you. They each have their struggles — finances, family, health, horse troubles, too little time, too many decisions to make, and so forth. But they don’t let those things get the upper hand. They keep a sense of humor, are kind as they help you back a trailer, and pause to let you take a photo of their horses or show you around their place. I don’t know whether good people are drawn to horses or horses help make us into the people we are, but I’m glad I’m in the company of horse people. It’s inspirational.

My husband just retired from 20 years of service to the federal government. He has a stack of special certificates, recognizing that year after year, he did not use his sick leave, the value of which is $31,584. Under civil service, he would have gotten paid that at retirement. But Rex was under a different system — use it or lose it.

As we were planning for this day, people joked that surely he could find a way somehow to use that sick leave. Perhaps years of carrying a heavy mail satchel have caused a back problem that might require months of rehab prior to retirement?

Rex said, “It’s not about the money. First of all, I’m not sick. Secondly, if I were out on sick leave, the office couldn’t hire someone to replace me. I won’t do that to the people I’ve worked shoulder to shoulder with unless it were legitimate. And, I agreed to work under this system. I can’t fake it and then turn around and ask God to bless us. It is obviously the only correct decision for me.”

I’m not saying people shouldn’t call in sick. I’m not commenting about employment practices being fair or not. I’m not even suggesting someone else shouldn’t use up their sick leave before separating from an employer. What I am saying is that living by a code costs us, but it’s worth it.

Life isn’t fair. Right now especially, lots of employees are coming up short, for one reason or another. As I talk with friends, I hear of people losing their jobs just before retirement, being cut back so they no longer qualify for benefits, or getting the work of three people dumped on their desks and not being recognized for Herculean effort or self-sacrifice. And on it goes. That hurts.

It’s normal to be resentful of unfair treatment and to want to strike back. Everyone wants to get what’s coming to them, what they have earned. We want to get even, because things should be even.

But having a code and living by it matters to our mental and spiritual health, and probably physical health, too. I’m not trying to make it sound like my husband’s decision is heroic. People are making much harder decisions all the time. I am trying to encourage us all by recognizing the value of guarding what is important — our spirit.

I’ll admit that I had to think it though when I realized how much money was involved. But in the end, I recognized that $31,584 was a small price to pay to finish well.