When Crying is Good

We all know that there are times when it is good to cry.  It can be cathartic for the soul by ridding us of pent-up emotions.  There are times, too, when it is good for kids to cry.  It can be a sign of healthy interactions with the world around them.

I am pleased to report that there are now three kids here at the orphanages that cry in a good way!  The first is Alicia.  When she arrived in November, she didn't interact with anyone or anything.  After months of love and attention from lots of people, she now cries when she is put down.  She associates being held with comfort and becomes upset when that is taken away.  Phonsley is like that now, too.  Six to nine months ago, he, too, didn't interact with the world.  Now?  He loves to play with the other kids.  He's trying to walk.  He's learning to feed himself.  And, if I put him down or don't pick him up when he sees me, he cries!  He's interacting with the world around him, and that is so cool to see.

Jean-Daniel's cart

The last crier is Jean-Daniel.  He has to be one of the most mellow boys I have ever seen.  He's always smiling, always happy.  Well, yesterday he threw a full-blown fit.  He has developed a fondness for pedaling himself around in these carts that some group built.  He loves it.  Yesterday I had him in it for about 30-40 minutes, and when it was time to be done, he wouldn't move.  He sat down and threw a tantrum!  I picked him up to get him to walk, and he just kept flinging his body around trying to get back to the cart.  Even in the back he continued to cry and throw a fit.  He loves the freedom the cart gives him.  He loves figuring out how it works.  It makes him feel good to succeed.   I was glad to see him so upset. He is interacting with his world in a much different way than he was before.

I hope none of these kids are content to "go back" to the way it was when they had so little stimulation.  The more they interact when visitors come, the more visitors will want to engage with them, the better off the kids will be!

 Last Wednesday at horse therapy I had the chance to ride again.  One woman that I've met, Elizabeth Lander, is really trying to bring horseback riding back to Haiti.  Her friend (I forget her name) who is from Colombia has a passion for working with kids.  The two of them together are working to build up the horse therapy program at the stables.  The stallion I'm on is a horse that they are trying out as a therapy horse.  I know I felt better after riding!  They want to come visit the orphanage so see the other kids and get a feel for how many kids could benefit from the therapy.  We talked about funding being the issue, which is a constant concern here.  Who knows?  Maybe between the three of us--and lots of prayer--we can figure out a way to keep our kids going.

The other bit of progress with horse therapy?  Not only does Cade no longer scream in terror, he spoke last Wednesday!  When he was done, he shouted, "Bravo!"  It's the first word he's ever said.


God does work miracles.