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She was only 4-years-old and to
her "mother" was someone not to be trusted.
Someone who hurts you.
Someone who doesn't
always love you. She now had a new 'mother', but
the pain associated with "mother" was so intense
she could not look her mother in the eyes. That
would mean she would connect, her heart would be
seen and could be hurt again. She needed to
protect her heart — she had "Reactive Attachment
Disorder." As she played with a horse named KC,
she felt safe and began to let her
heart be seen. She "loved KC, she was her new
best friend". Games were played that would
require eye contact with KC and her mother
before KC could walk on. During one of the
classes the daughter's eyes connected to
mother's eyes with her heart. I felt like I was
intruding on a private, intimate moment between
mother and daughter. As we continued to walk to
the hitching post, there were tears in the
mother's eyes. Mother said that was the first
time their eyes met from the heart. A heart was
opened with Jesus and the help of a horse named
KC.
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Mr. Gary looked at the little boys' eyes
and saw the life of a 30-year-old — he could not
only be ei ght. There was too much pain and
sadness in his eyes. This little 'man' needed
hope for a better tomorrow. Week by week they
worked with the horse, Annie. Much to learn and
so much fun learning it together. One week this
little
boy was busy digging through the cowboy boot box
(boots donated for the students because they
often come with the only shoes they have). Mr.
Gary asked him why he was digging because the
boots he normally wore were right there? The
little boy proudly pulled out the boots he knew
were in there and said, "Because these are just
like yours! Can you help me tie them like your
boots?" Healing was beginning with Jesus and
identity with a cowboy, Mr. Gary.
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One of the boys that came was
thought to have been an alcohol fetal syndrome
baby. His brain
was damaged and he did not
demonstrate a conscience or show remorse. The
first day of class he stepped on a girl's foot
to squelch the joy she was
displaying from putting on a pair of rhinestone
cowboy boots. He was very impulsive and out of
control. On the third week while being groomed,
Topaz turned her head to the side and put her
muzzle on the boy's shoulder. He glanced at Ms.
Cindy the mentor with fear and asked what the
horse was doing. She told him Topaz was giving
him a kiss. His eyes brightened up in amazement
as he thought that through. Then excitedly he
asked if he could kiss Topaz. He kissed her neck
numerous times. The little boy who didn't make
emotional connections was now feeling the
mother's love of Topaz (she had a foal this
year). A miracle with Jesus and the kiss of a
horse named Topaz.
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This little boy was so afraid! He
could not get on Buddy bareback, but he knew he
could
 if he had a saddle. The facilitator said
that was not the plan this week, maybe next
week. The next week with the saddle on he stood
with tears streaming down his face and said he
was too afraid. He had put his hope in a saddle
and it did not bring
him peace. Mr. Paul, the mentor, quietly took
the boy aside. The next thing Ms. Torey saw was
a little boy riding Buddy with a huge excited
smile. "Look, Ms. Torey, I'm riding!" There was
such a contrast in his countenance that she
asked him what had happened. "Mr. Paul prayed
with me that God would give me strength and God
is VERY strong!" Strength was given by Jesus
through a prayer with Mr. Paul. "After only a
few weeks interacting with horses our teenager
has become less rebellious and does not anger as
easily...
This is an answer to prayer!"
Thankful Parents
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