A Boy And His Dog

Stumbo came to The Mustard Seed in October. A mute and traumatized boy who was laughed at by his peers and seen as a demon by adults. Stumbo is an epileptic who would fall to the ground and foam at the mouth during his seizures. He is 10 years old and has had the devil beaten out of him by religious zealots a number of times. His body bears testimony to this. When he came to the Mustard Seed, he was greeted by a chorus of protesting voices. He was unwanted and feared. A visit to the local clinic soon had Stumbo medicated with Epilim and the attacks controlled. He made friends slowly with one of the starving dogs from the village that periodically frequent our garden in search of food. He would feed, wash and lavish love on this starving unlovely animal. But alas,nothing could be done to turn back the hands of a doggies life that had been abused and starved for so long. One day last week, Stumbo's dog was called to doggie heaven. I came home to find a thin brown body cradling a doggie face lovingly in his lap. Stumbo had lost the only earthly friend he had ever had. As I hugged this precious weeping boy,I was aware that Christ in all His wisdom had used a despised beaten dog to open up the emotions of a little boy who could now begin to give and accept love. I could now feel Stumbo's humanity. He entered into the circle of normalcy with his peers. Together we buried Stumbo's dog. The dog had finished his work and could now rest. Stumbo,is a changed little boy, who loves dinosaurs and soccer. His epilepsy is controlled and his life has begun. Jesus and Stumbo know we all need someone to care about, so that the hurting Christ in us and in the world can be healed.

The words of Julia Occonnel