One of the most life altering answers one can find is the answer to that very quandary. Yet we live in a culture riddled with individuals of all ages seeking to find answers to the question, “Who am I?” This has become an epidemic of great proportion as many people do not know the right places to look to find sufficient answers. What so many of us don’t realize is that the answers we are looking
for can be found in the very essence of the parenting process. The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NKJV. When we look at the original Hebrew of that text we find a slightly different image as it literally translates “Train up a child in his own personal bent and when he is older he will be well equipped for life.” One could also accurately rephrase the text to read, “Train up a child in such a way he comes to know who he is and when he is older he will be well equipped for life.” So if the secret for a “well- equipped life” is found in the discovery of ones identity, then a life void of such must be detrimental. The astonishing fact is that in the field of neuroscience we are finally catching up to the discovery and verification of this very Biblical principle. What we have come to learn is that during puberty there is a chemical change that takes place in the brain where three chemicals; serotonin, nor-epinephrine, and dopamine are released for the first time. These three chemicals are necessary for the decision making process. However, if a child prior to puberty has an unresolved emotional conflict, a perpetual release of Adrenalin is initiated and thus the release of the three chemicals is blocked. So for the rest of the child’s life he or she will be unequipped to make decisions for themselves. For example if a child at the age of 7 has an unresolved issue with rejection, that child will be stunted in his or her emotional development. For the rest of his or her life they will view the world through the eyes of a 7 year old child continually looking and expecting to be rejected again. There are only three causes of mental illness in the world; genetics, physical trauma, and (surprisingly) the vast majority of all mental illness is rooted in the struggles of adolescents leading to Arrested Development. So what is the cause of this reaction and what is the solution? Neuroscience itself has looked into the possibilities with no definite answers, yet the answer is found right there in scripture (Proverbs 22:6). The reason that a 7 year old child with an unresolved rejection issue is so strongly affected is that the rejection attaches itself to the child’s identity. For the rest of the child’s natural life they will view themselves with an identity as either a victim of rejection or one worthy of rejection. Either way, the rejection has attached itself to the child’s own personal identity. In theory the solution is much simpler than pop psychology would lead us to believe. If the problem at hand is rooted in identity then the solution can also be found in identity. That is why at the Double R Ranch we have developed our own curriculum as a form of re-parenting. This curriculum can also be used to come along side parents and foster parents alike to help clarify the parenting process and build a good healthy personal identity into the children and adults we work with. It has a two phase approach which starts by building a healthier personal identity and eventually leads into a presentation of the Gospel Message. This is where complete emotional healing can be achieved as we cross the threshold from parenting with a good strong personal identity into discipleship and begin the path of discovery of an identity in Christ and experiencing total freedom. This is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) located in Mountain Grove, Missouri, so your donations are tax deductible. Double R Ranch has developed their Kids & Equine Program, to improve the lives of children and families together with horses to teach life skills and aid in rehabilitating horses in need. This particular program, which is more focused on foster and adopted children and families, will include other children as needed. With the addition of new facilities Double R Ranch will continue to have lessons and participation programs for Kids & Equine, along with providing day and eventually overnight camps for foster, adopted, and troubled children and there families. A live-in internship opportunity for children aging out of the foster care system will be implemented after the purchase of a nearby farm property and home. The Ranch plans to expand to teach business skills such as typing, resume building, advertising, marketing, photography, web designing along with their riding and horse training program. As they interview, accept, and gain more volunteer professionals, Double R Ranch will expand further to other areas of education and training as the future allows. Social and Professional skills are obtained through a balanced environment among hard work, dedication, respect, and trust. Students are given hands on experience working with instructors alongside of equine aiding in the opportunity to provide and encourage a child to give of themselves freely. This unlocks a bond of trust, opening up a child to find healing in areas most closed off. A ranch setting with horse training and working with equine shows the child that a horse submitted to the rider and responsive to the little things builds a bond of peace and serenity of both horse and rider. An out of control horse is dangerous to themselves and to others around them and creates chaos to the partnership just as an out of control child
is an endangerment to themselves and to those around them. Not only do horses teach us much about ourselves and help us each to grow individually. They also provide us opportunities to connect and understand the challenges we face; helping us relate more simply to the results and not the task at hand. Currently there is a need to have feed and water (pumped by electricity) paid for on the ranch as well as funds to expand by the purchase of breaking ground properties to handle more horses and implement additional training and education for youth of all ages. Additionally offering camps for children and for foster families to do team building exercises and small cattle drives to learn to work together. How can you join in and be apart of our program? Donate funds to help feed and care for the property and horses. Help maintain, upkeep, and make our environment fun and safe by volunteering and sharing your professionalism, gifts, skills, and talents. Contact Brooks & Tracy Thomas Today! (417)259-9348
Email: [email protected]
P.O. Box 576
Cabool, Missouri 65689
