Inspiration for living is all around us if we would just take the time to look.

If I told you I was going to put a blindfold on you, stick an earpiece in your ear that was connected to a device that I could speak into so you could hear me direct your footsteps and you had to totally rely on me to give you every direction ... and then I put the lead strap in your hand and at the other end of the lead strap was a Holstein heifer and I sent you out into a showring ... what would you say?

Yes, me too, absolutely not, no way, are you crazy?!

Jodi Jones, daughter of Mike Jones of J&S Holsteins, Marshall, Ind., tips the scale with trust and courage. Although completely blind from birth, this little gal hasn’t let that stop her from parading her Holstein heifers down the tanbark trail. At the county or state level, she knows no bounds. The size of the show-ring, the number of cattle in the ring or the quality of cattle surrounding her, Jodi is seemingly unhindered by it all as she steps out onto the shavings with her Holstein heifer under her control.

With her dad in the stands giving her direction, Jodi slowly and carefully guides her heifer through the ring. If you weren’t aware of the situation, you would never know she was completely in the hands of her father.

The trust she places in her father is solid and was firmed up by having a dad who has never led her astray. That alone is enough to make you shake your head in amazement, but the courage Jodi possess is equally amazing. She could let so many stumbling blocks keep her from taking that lead strap, but her determination allows her to grab that heifer and confidently walk into the ring not worried about stumbling or falling.

Think of what each of us can accomplish when we put our trust in the right place and use our God given courage in every situation. This is a perfect picture of putting faith and trust in someone and soaring because of it. Not allowing doubt, peer pressure or fear consume her, Jodi is experiencing a part of life that normally would be untouched by someone without sight.

Jodi’s trust in her father to see down that path for her has allowed her the experience of a lifetime. While her father has to be trustworthy, Jodi also has to be fearless. And the opposite of fear is faith.

With that kind of loving support, people can accomplish anything. With that kind of faith we have freedom to fly. With that kind of courage, the possibilities are limitless! What God given talents are you wasting because of fear, lack of trust and discouragement? Maybe you need to look to a sightless young girl for inspiration.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.