On December 5th our barn gathered at Clover Presbyterian Church for our annual banquet. We fellowshipped, celebrated, gave awards and enjoyed the evening. Ella and Claire led us in song, Savannah shared a thought on Grace, Gratitude and Grit and Felicity read a poem she wrote about the farm. Read below for the details:
Each one of us is here this evening, because we value the lessons and spirit we find at the barn.
We are surrounded by technology. We rely on AI, Google, iPads, and phones to answer our questions, help with homework, manage our emails, generate ideas, and so much more. Technology can make life easier, but it can’t teach us everything.
In fact, some of life’s most important lessons can’t be Googled.
At the barn, the rules are different. Technology is not going to do the work for you. A video game cannot teach the grace needed to forgive and move on after your horse does something silly and you hit the dirt. You cannot feel the deep gratitude that comes from a horse trusting you to go by something scary on the trail from an app. And you certainly cannot develop the grit it takes to saddle a horse when you are four feet tall and the horse is much taller than you, by swiping on a phone.
Horsemanship demands effort, persistence, and heart. At the barn, you have to put in the work. You have to experience grace, gratitude, and grit first-hand, in real time, with real consequences and tangible rewards. And this is a lifelong journey—not something to pick up when convenient, or set aside when busy—but a continuous path of growth and learning.
Beyond the lessons of horsemanship, the barn is a sanctuary. It’s a place to step away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a mental break from the constant noise of notifications, deadlines, and obligations. It’s a place to connect—not just with horses—but with people, the world around us and the lord.
Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.
There are few places more spiritual than a well-kept barn, filled with the quiet contentment of happy horses munching on hay after a busy day of lessons or showing. Their peaceful presence reminds us to slow down, breathe deeply, and simply be.
So while technology has its place—and we wouldn’t want to live without it—the barn reminds us of what truly matters. The lessons learned here aren’t found on a screen. They are felt in the muscles, in the heart, and in the spirit. And these lessons—grace, gratitude, and grit—are ones that stay with us long after we leave the barn doors behind.
Crooked Creek – Felicity Davis
The summers are hot, the winters are cold,
Yes, some of the horses are very old.
The people are sweet and the horses too,
Everyday I come, I learn something new.
There are always things to do when we are there.
The smell of hay always in the air.
We try our best to do our task
That Miss Savannah just might ask.
The horse I ride is a little stubborn, but arn’t we all?
Her name is Grace and she stands so tall.
They’re kind, they’re sweet,
It is all you need.
A place called Crooked Creek.
Romans 5: 3-5 states: We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Grace, Gratitude and Grit are not created and instilled while doing things that are easy. Challenge yourself to learn, set goals that are hard and hope that you have the grit to persevere.
