The Shadow of His Wings

January 25, 2023

I came across this verse in Psalms recently, and I was draw to the imagery, the beauty of being helped and able to sing beneath the shadow of the Lord’s wings. Sometimes, when a Bible verse lands strongly on my heart and mind, I look carefully at each word and dive into commentaries to try to …

Unconditional

September 21, 2022

For kids and teens who have experienced hurt, betrayal, neglect, or abandonment by an adult in their past, placing trust in another adult can be challenging. It can also feel like unconditional love isn’t possible for them. They can worry that the people who care for them now may eventually stop …

WFAE Live: Mental Health Conversations

August 9, 2022

WFAE 90.7 is a local NPR radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina, doing a series on Mental Health in July 2022. Tia Tharp, Executive Director of Bright Side Youth Ranch, was invited to share about equine therapy for the focus on alternative forms of therapy for mental health.

Feeling Heard

August 2, 2022

Each child or teen that comes to the ranch has a story. A story of the heavy burdens that they carry. We may know pieces of it prior to their arrival, yet it is their story to tell as they feel comfortable. Our desire is that a child or teen feels safe and loved enough to trust us with their …

It's Not One Size Fits All

August 23, 2021

One of our recent participants deals with anxiety. She’s worked hard to process it on her own and with her family, but the events and isolation from the past year pushed that anxiety to a level where she recognized she needed help. At 14 years old, she understood that this was something that she …

Breathe Again

October 14, 2020

As 2020 kicked off, I spent some time asking God what He wanted me to focus on for the year. Usually, it’s just one word that represents so much more than just a word. I’ve been given various words over the past few years, many of which were personal challenges, a family focus, or a reminder of …

MAPLE and MOCHA Coloring Pages

May 4, 2020

Here are the coloring pages for our cute little miniature horses named Maple and Mocha. Maple and Mocha went through an auction and were purchased in order to be sent to slaughter, however, with the help of a friend, we were able to step in and save them and provide them homes at Bright Side. We …

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