Flash: The Homeless Donkey Who Taught Me about Life, Faith, and Second Chances

The heartwarming tale of an irrepressible donkey who needed a home?and forever changed a family.Rachel Anne Ridge was at the end of her rope. The economy had crashed, taking her formerly thriving business along with it. She had been a successful artist, doing work she loved, but now she felt like a failure. How would her family pay their bills? What would the future hold? If only God would somehow let them know that everything was going to be all right . . . and then Flash the donkey showed up.If there is ever a good time to discover a wounded, frightened, bedraggled donkey standing in your driveway, this wasn?t it. The local sheriff dismissed Flash as ?worthless.? But Rachel didn?t believe that, and she couldn?t turn him away. She brought Flash into her struggling family during their darkest hour?and he turned out to be the very thing they needed most. Flash is the true story of their adventures together in learning to love and trust; breaking down whatever fences stood in their way; and finding the strength, confidence, and faith to carry on. Prepare to fall in love with Flash: a quirky, unlikely hero with gigantic ears, a deafening bray, a personality as big as Texas, and a story you?ll never forget. Review "Starred Review." Artist and designer Ridge's business was tanking, along with her attitude and emotional well-being. So why, Ridge wondered, would God have a bedraggled donkey show up in her driveway, adding to the stresses of her family? While it didn't make sense to keep Flash, as he was lovingly dubbed, Ridge and her family made room for the poor wandering animal in their hearts and home. Ridge figured out, sometimes the hard way, how to properly care for Flash, and as she paid attention to his needs, she learned a whole lot of positive lessons about herself, her faith, and her life. Ridge examines some of life's most difficult issues with insight gained from sharing a home with an equine personality, summarizing lessons learned in pithy statement that conclude chapters ("Be a service animal; "Make things right with others"). Readers will be clamoring for more of Flash as soon as they digest the last story in this powerful and uplifting memoir.--Publishers WeeklyFlash, a stray donkey, wanders onto the Ridge family's rural Texas property one night and ends up staying. Ridge--blogger, artist, wife, mother, and entrepreneur--recounts his story and the wisdom God gave her using this unlikely source.Ridge's voice is that of a friend offering encouragement and sound counsel. Her insights aren't earthshattering but are all solid life principles we should hear often. Each chapter holds an illustration from her odd and charming pet and a lesson, such as "Run with horses; the pursuit of excellence conquers fear" and "Stand where fruit is falling; the secret of abundance is in choosing gratitude," plus practical ways to put the insight into practice.She paints a clear picture of God's faithfulness through everyday life challenges, including financial problems, illness, and insecurity. Recommend to readers longing for encouragement.--CBA Retailers and Resources Review Stories that teach spiritual lessons, delight with humor, and make me lean in closer to God?s heart are my favorites! And this unlikely treasure of a book does just that. You will fall in love with Flash and the way Rachel Anne processes their story together. (Lysa Terkeurst, NYT bestselling author of The Best Yes and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries)When I first heard that Rachel Ridge had written a book about her family?s donkey, Flash, I had no idea what to expect. Nothing could have prepared me for such a delightful experience! I loved every page of Flash, and Rachel has such a gift for story telling that you can absolutely picture each scene. This book made me laugh at Flash?s antics and cry as I identified with the lessons He has taught her family about the way God loves us and sees us. This book will make you f