What Unconditional Love can do! Eric is 13 years old and a very confused and hurting boy. Until he was 2, Eric was a normal boy, but then some person thought they needed to shake him;… hard! Now Eric is blind, and his sensory perceptions are so messed up, anything new sends him into a panic. Eric can’t even go to school because it’s too traumatic for him. He has people come and teach him what they can at home. When I think of what that someone did to Eric, it makes me want to find them and show them the hurt they’ve caused, but I know that is not what my Lord would want. He loves us all, despite our sin and He wants me to love them too. God gives unconditional love; most of us have heard the verse in John 3:16, “For God so loved the World (not the planet, or even the world system, but the people of the world) that He gave His one and only Son, that who ever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Now that is LOVE! To send your one and only son to die for a bunch of people who don’t even acknowledge you exist! Wow! Not only does God love us that much, but he created this world to show us His love, all we have to do is look at God’s Creation all around us to see His wonder, His grace and His love! At Rising Son Youth Ranch, we use God’s creation, the horse to show His love to hurting children and families. Did you know that God gave the equine His love for mankind? Read Numbers 22:21-30, the story of Balaam’s donkey! This donkey was faithful and obedient to Balaam, and always did his bidding, until one day when God was angry with Balaam. God was out to kill Balaam for his hard heart, and Balaam’s donkey tried to save him from God’s wrath. Unfortunately, in the process of trying to avoid God, the donkey made Balaam mad because he didn’t see the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway, waiting to kill him. So, Balaam beat his donkey with a stick! Then a very strange and wonderful thing happened! The donkey talked to Balaam and showed him why she did what she did! Now that got Balaam’s attention! The donkey was so concerned about her master’s safety she tried her best to avoid the danger! That is love! I can tell you many stories of love conveyed to people through horses! Eric is a classic example. His first visit to our ranch was full of anxiety and fear for Eric. He screamed and tried to run away, he tried to bite what ever he could get a hold of. This new place was very scary for Eric because he couldn’t see it and he couldn’t understand it is a good place. Eric’s adoptive Mom is very patient with him and talks calmly to him to try to get him to understand and stop panicking. She knows he can’t help his fear because he can’t process new surroundings well. He started to calm down when we put his riding boots on him, that was something he understood, and he liked the feel of them on his feet. The riding helmet wasn’t so easy! Then we led him into the stall to brush Bazz; this was very scary again, but Eric soon grew interested in this big calm creature and began to pet and brush Bazz. He was interested in the saddling, but then grew anxious again when we had to leave the barn and walk down to the riding ring. We weren’t sure if we would be able to get Eric to understand enough to get on Bazz, but he was ready for that and once he was led up onto the mounting block, he swung his leg over Bazz and grinned as he sat on him for the first time! From the moment Eric sat on Bazz, he was a different child! Anxiety was replaced by calm, anger was replaced by joy! For 20 minutes, as we led Bazz around the ring, Eric was as calm as could be, he smiled, he sang songs to himself and Bazz, he patted his chest in contentment. It was AMAZING! When Eric came back for subsequent rides, he was anxious again, but not with fear; now he anticipates his ride and can’t wait to get in the barn to see Bazz! God is Good and amazing!