There is not an animal on this farm who does not love and trust Maria, who does not respond to her gentleness and patience, and her very powerful gift for listening to them. Maria knows how to listen and how to love, as I know so well. Her spirit is generous and giving, and every animal on the farm – donkeys, dogs, barn cats and chickens – comes to see her once a day or more and speak with her.

They press themselves against her, come to her, listen to her songs and soothing words and give back their love and acceptance of her. How lucky I am to see this every day, how much I learn from it. It never fails to touch and nourish me.

Maria has no sense of this gift, never speaks of it or acknowledges it. But I see it every day and it suffuses this farm and the next with love and connection.