I Don't Have Crooked Legs

By Christopher L. Johnson

I Dont Have Crooked Legs tells the story of a beautiful young filly named Kit Kat, born on a wonderful place called Unwanted Farms. Everything appears to be fine until one day two other babies laugh at her, and she hears them say she has crooked legs. Their laughter and those words, crooked legs, leave her wanting to hide from everyone. Her mom, Cookie, shows her own imperfection to Kit Kat and sends her off on a journey of self discovery and acceptance. In her conversations with other animals on the farm, Kit Kat learns that she is very special, that she can overcome bullying, and that other people dont determine her value.

I Dont Have Crooked Legs offers lessons we all need to learn.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 4, 2013
• ISBN: 9781449783570

Christopher L. Johnson

Christopher L. Johnson, JD, was born and raised in Kokomo, Indiana. He graduated from a Baptist liberal arts college with degrees in pre-law, business and theology. He then graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law. After practicing law for more than ten years in Indiana, he resigned and became the legal advisor to the superintendent of the state’s largest prison. He served as professor and program chair of criminal justice and business at the post-secondary level. He then developed and taught Criminal Justice at Kokomo High School in Kokomo, Indiana. He travels and speaks about the importance of taking snapshots of the moments in life as a way of reflecting on our own lives. He is the author of the book, Looking: A Soul’s Journey. His daily postings can be read at LivExceptionally.com, and he is available for speaking engagements.

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Contents

Dedication

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Biography

Copyright © 2013 Christopher L. Johnson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-8356-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-8355-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-8357-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013901771

WestBow Press rev. date: 2/6/2013

Dedication

To Kit Kat, who taught me how to have my heart broken and mended. To all the animals, past and present, that have touched a chord somewhere deep inside of me that no one could ever touch. And to the Creator of all these wonderful creatures and the part of my heart that loves them so much.

Foreword

Christopher Johnson’s book, I Don’t Have Crooked Legs, is a beautiful, heartfelt way of dealing with the everyday experiences of life through the eyes of a newborn foal.

The wisdom conveyed is timeless and the lessons portrayed are metaphors that can be easily identified by children and adults of any age. Lack of confidence, discouragement and purpose in life are explored in an inspirational way that will be remembered for a lifetime.

Whether it’s read individually to a child or to a classroom this book is bound to become a treasured classic.

Cheryl Miller, M.Ed.

Founder – Agape’ Therapeutic Riding Center

Preface

I Don’t Have Crooked Legs is first in the The Unwanted Farm series.

Each book in the series is designed to use heart-warming stories of horses, dogs and other farm animals to teach children about such things as handicaps/disabilities, bullying and fear.

The interaction between humans and animals introduces children to the mystical connection of respect, love and compassion that can occur among all of God’s creation. And the conversations among all the animals provide children with a non-threatening, but easily recognized and understood, lesson deep in values and morals.

Introduction

A beautiful little thoroughbred filly is born on Unwanted Farms without any unusual fanfare. Each spring, the births of new babies brought life to the farm after a long, cold winter. For the most part, Kit Kat’s birth was much like the births of many other young horses born on her farm and all around the world. But Kit Kat was different.

Something had happened to her while inside her mother. She was so content where she was that she decided she did not want to come out. And so, with each passing day, she continued to grow bigger in a place with very limited space. Finally, the day came that she was born. But, the pressure on her growing body had caused her legs to not look like other little horses. They were bent, severely bent. They were so crooked she could barely walk.

Kit Kat had no idea there was something different about her legs. Well, not until two other young horses, Pistol and Sweet Pea, laughed and made fun of her. I Don’t Have Crooked Legs tells the story of Kit Kat’s struggle with her hurt feelings and her conversations with other animals on the farm. More importantly, it’s about Kit Kat’s discovery of herself and who she really was.

Chapter One

I t had been so warm, wet and cozy before, but now, for the first time, Kit Kat felt the chill of air moving around her. Inside her mom for the last 11 months, she had nothing to do but think and sleep. After all, what else would you do in a place that was so dark? It was like the little cocoon that had been her home had been peeled away from her and there was light everywhere. She opened her eyes and tried to make some sense of the world around her.

Ahhh, there’s mom.

She’d never seen her before; but she had been a part of her for so long that there was no way she could be confused about who was touching her. Until now, she had never felt mom’s nose against her coat or experienced the sensation of mom’s tongue licking her. These were the first kisses of her life and there was no mistaking that this was her mother.

Mom stood over her as though she would defend her against anyone that dared to come too close. Even though it wasn’t as warm and safe as where she had been only moments ago, knowing mom was this