Mercy Trails Ranch

“She has a rough story,” her now foster mom says as we talk on the phone.

And as she continues, the word rough fails miserably as a description of this child’s life.  Jennifer’s mother is a prostitute.  This led to sexual abuse by her mother’s clientele which in turn led to an ingrained distrust of adults and authority. The abuse continued up until she was finally placed in the foster care system.  She was then transferred to 3 different homes over the next 4 months.  Her father is an alcoholic who is banned from speaking with her since he threatened to kill her the last time they had talked. 

“Could she come and spend some time with the horses? I think it may help,” says her foster mother.

The word “no” cannot even be a thought for one such as this.  “Of course she can come.  I don’t know how much help we can be, but the horses know better than we do sometimes.”

The time is set; she will come once a week for one hour.

Now is the time that the feelings of inadequacy set in.  I am no counselor, I have no training.  ”God, you will have to work here because I don’t know what I am doing with this fragile spirit.  Please use this place, and your animals to do what you do best.”

6 months earlier…

“He has a rough story,” his owner says as we look at the red roan paint before us.  “He was a child lesson horse at a dude ranch before he was sold to a nearby farmer.”  And as the story goes on, once again the word rough is inadequate.  She goes on to explain how the farmer got on Shiloh and spurred him to go get the cows from the pasture.  Shiloh, not ever having known spurs before, bucked the farmer off.  The farmer, in his anger and frustration, tied Shiloh to a post and beat him until he stopped struggling and just stood there to take it.  He then left him tied to the pole with no food or water, where he may have died without the help of this caring person standing before me. 

“Do you want him for the ranch?  I know he won’t be able to be ridden without some work, but I think it may be good for him to stay with you.” 

And again the word “no” is far from my mind.

Back to the present…

Jennifer shows up for a lesson, a beautiful girl with dark curls and dark eyes. 

“Would you like to meet the horses?” Josie asks.  “You may play with any one that you want.”  As Jennifer surveys the herd, her eyes fall on our beloved Thunder.  He is a 17 hand gentle giant whose idea of heaven is to be scratched while eating.  “I think I would like hi….,” but that is as far as the words get before a white nose blocks her view of the massive Thunder.  She moves to peer around Shiloh as he has come between her and her choice.  She points around him at Thunder, “The big black o…,”  and again a white nose blocks her view.  Shiloh breaths deeply, his nose only inches from hers, as if completely taking in who this little girl is. 

Quiet.

A slight giggle.

“I think I need to take this one.  He won’t let me choose anyone else.”

And with that, the horse has obediently followed the will of his Master.  He will now use his experience to help heal another.

Later, after much brushing and chit-chat, the girl looks up at Josie with those dark eyes and states, “He doesn’t have any scars from the farmer?”  “No” says my wise wife, “not on the outside, but he still has his scars on the inside that have not yet healed.”

Quiet.

A whisper, “I know.”

And with that simple statement, the wounds start to scab over in that little heart.  The scars that no one can see, that we think no one else knows, God knows.  And through a horse’s choice of a little girl, I knew that He had chosen to share her scars with a horse that understood what those unseen scars can do to a little girl.  She has a long way to go, but, in time, maybe, God will choose to share someone’s unseen wounds with Jennifer, and he will allow her to be His tool to start the healing in someone else that she has started to experience now.

 EPILOGUE:

We kept in contact with Jennifer as she was moved through 2 more homes.  Now she will move 1 more time as a family has come forward and started the adoption process.  She has been out to the ranch frequently.  But the real triumph came when we were able to attend the service where Jennifer was baptized, proclaiming to the world that she has now found Someone worthy of her trust that can help to fully heal the scars on her young heart. 

           And the angels rejoice.