"With an open heart, trust finds its stride, and patience paves a path to a friendship as golden as the sun." ~Dana Urban

It was a beautiful, spring day at the enchanting Soulshine Farm. The flowers were in full bloom and the sun was shining brightly on the new sweet grass. Sunny, Sky and their donkey stall mates had ventured out into the pasture to graze, and hopefully find some new weedy treats. Sunny roamed the vast pasture, basking in the warmth of the golden sun, on a search for his favorite roughage he often found near the fence line or around the trees.

Grazing along the way, Sunny lazily wandered off from Sky and the others. Suddenly, he spotted a figure in the distance, under the brightness of the sun, skipping toward him with eager anticipation. It was a young girl, adorned with a fun ball cap and a whimsical t-shirt, two of Sunny's favorite things to wear. He was immediately intrigued. Approaching her cautiously, his ears pricked up with curiosity.

The young girl had an infectious energy as her eyes lit up with excitement to meet this new, long eared friend. She had recently moved to Soulshine Farm with her family and was eager to explore her new home and meet the animals amongst the grounds. Approaching with ease, she offered an introduction with hopes of forming enough trust to attach a lead. Since Sunny was known for his crazy hats and occasional fun wears, she already knew his name as he walked a little closer. Today, with the weather getting warmer, he had chosen to leave the silly socks and t-shirt back at the barn, taking on the new day with his natural brown coat and one of his favorite baseball caps. "Hello there Sunny!" she exclaimed, extending her hand towards him, as she held a lead rope in the other. "I've heard so much about you. My name is Joy! Would you like to be friends?" Unsure of this spirited newcomer, Sunny hesitated at first and began to study her energy, listening for her heartbeat to determine his final analysis. Sunny, like many donkeys, know a true heart when they get close enough to listen and this one seemed to have such a sweet, intriguing beat.

As his curiosity continued to build, he proceeded closer to catch a whiff of her scent, appreciating her willingness to be patient with her approach. As he looked into Joy's kind eyes, he immediately felt a warm sensation and moved in with a gentle nudge. He nuzzled her hand to let her know he was accepting her offer, while his long ears twitched back and forth with a friendly wave. Joy leaned in for a hug as she clipped on the lead. Oh, what a fine day this would be indeed.

Sunny and Joy were inseparable companions for the entire day, exploring every corner of the Soulshine Farm. She lead him on walks around the tranquil ponds, trots through the magnificent meadows, and adventures into the whispering, lush woods, full of beautiful birds and exciting trails. She was thrilled to get acquainted with her new home grounds, but even more thrilled she had met such an exciting and trusting new friend. As they shared adventure, conversations, and lots of laughter throughout the day, a bond of trust and understanding blossomed between them. Sunny learned to trust in Joy's creativity, excitable energy, and curiosity, while Joy learned to trust in Sunny's gentle nature, his need for patience, and steadfast companionship.

The sun began to dip below the horizon as the day was coming to an end. A new friendship with an incredible bond of trust and patience was formed. They both knew in that moment that no matter the challenges ahead, with this bond, anything was possible, and together, they would have many more adventures. With so many new friends to meet around the Soulshine Farm, Joy could hardly wait for more days to come. While Sunny chose to keep his new friend to himself on their first day together, he was excited to introduce her to Sky and the others in the coming days.

So let their tale be a reminder to us all - in a world filled with uncertainties, worries and pain, trust and patience reside as the cornerstones of a true friendship. When we open our hearts to others, miracles can happen, and the most unlikely friendships can bloom. It is in this place we will find our hearts in tune.

Artwork and Tale by Dana Urban Urban SoulShine Inspirations: Donkey Tales/Donkey Talk Series/Just For Kicks