“Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name.”
— Psalm 100:3–4
Take a deep breath — smell that hay, hear the horses snorting, maybe a few birds singing around the barn. Isn’t it amazing how peaceful it can feel here? God’s creation is all around us — big and small — and today, we get to slow down and notice it.
Horses are incredible creatures. They’re strong enough to pull a heavy load but gentle enough to let a child brush their nose. When we spend time around them, we can’t help but feel thankful — for their beauty, their calm presence, and the joy they bring.
Gratitude is kind of like grooming a horse. You don’t do it just once and call it good — you keep at it every day. When you brush a horse, at first it might be dusty or muddy, but the more you work, the more the shine starts to come through.
Our hearts work the same way. When we take time each day to thank God — for the people we love, for food on the table, for the animals around us — our hearts start to shine too. Gratitude cleans away the dust of worry and frustration and helps us see God’s goodness more clearly.
Our Celebration of Gratitude began with introductions, a devotion and horse assignments. Then everyone enjoyed grooming and riding their horse through an obstacle course to compete for the best score. It was a great morning and fun was had by all!
Thank you to Heather Davidson for the photos.
