At 3 p.m., Maria comes out to the pasture for the afternoon feeding. When I can, and am home,  I come also. She usually brings leftovers for the sheep and donkeys. Yesterday, it was apple slices.

The animals behave well, which surprises me. They don’t rush her or overwhelm her, they just gather around her and she usually hands out the apple slices one by name, calling each animal by its name.

I never tire of seeing this, her relationship with the animals here is beautiful and inspiring. There is hope for humanity, and yes, animals are healing and essential to human health and well-being, as poorly and thoughtlessly as we treat them.