Yup, it’s a New Year.  A year fresh, with a clean page to start everything over again.  A chance to get it right this time.

In my Children’s lesson, this past Sunday, we talked about Horton the Elephant who made a promise to Maizie the bird to sit on her egg.  For those of you who never read the story, Maizie was tired and bored sitting on her egg and wanted to go to Florida on vacation.  I’d rethink that right now because it’s snowing in the northern part of Florida and is going down to freezing here in Central tonight.  But unlike you in the frozen north, we are going to be back up to the 70’s by the weekend.  It’s really a shock to your system, since it was in the 80’s before Christmas and now it’s going down to freezing.  At least when it’s cold up north it stays that way for months.  By the way, I’m so sorry that the rest of the country is in a deep freeze.  With horses, or having to deal with other animals outside, it really stinks.  But I’m getting off track.

Now Horton made this promise, and he keeps his promises.  What kind of egg it was, was never mentioned, but I assume that he started sitting there in the spring, through the summer, and into winter since he had icicles hanging from his trunk and his feet.  Okay, picture a nest, with an elephant sitting on it.  Well it takes a children’s book to make this happen.

Of course we know that the point of the book was to teach children about keeping a promise, and my point was that God keeps his.  It’s brought to life with Noah and the Rainbow, God’s promise never to flood the whole earth again.

So what better way to start a year than with an Elephant and a Rainbow,  AKA a New Years Resolution.

Oh those dreaded resolutions.  This year I’m going to lose weight, go to the Gym, etc.  You know, the ones we never keep, even though they are intended to keep us fit and healthy.

So yesterday, as I’m out in the pasture, trying to get a blanket on a flighty Thoroughbred, with a North wind that felt much like a tornado, I’m thinking…. this is really dangerous.  Or as I’m trying to wrap a horses leg in the middle of a pasture while she’s snorting and bouncing around, …this is really dangerous.  Aaa duh!!  Time for a New Years Resolution stupid.

Now I know better, but sometimes common sense leaves me.  No I was quite aware that what I was doing is not what I would teach a student to do, but when it’s cold, and you’re in a hurry, you just say – “oh I’ll just do it this one time.”  Or as I was squeezing between a wall and a horse last night to straighten a blanket….  “What are you thinking?”  Yes I know the horse, she’s mine, yes I raised her from a baby and she’s a good girl.  It only takes something stupid to happen and you’re on the way to the emergency room.

So my New Years Resolution is to heed my own advice and stay safe.

We break resolutions because they are promises we make to ourselves.  Now I won’t break a promise if I make it to someone else, that’s just plain rude.  Why then, am I not as important as anyone else?

So if you made a resolution to spend more time with your horse (this is good for your peace of mind), to take down all those cob webs (this gives you a feeling of a job well done), to clean your tack and oil it more often (this could keep you safe if you notice a problem), treat yourself like you would treat others, keep those resolutions, you’re worth it.

Have a wonderful, healthy, safe, Happy New Year! from our farm to yours.