I’ll be the first to admit it. We are flat-out spoiled here in central Florida when it comes to places we can go for a little distraction for attraction. Let’s face it. This ain’t no Mickey Mouse operation around here. Ummm. Wait a minute. Hold that thought.

Having said that, while we do like to peruse the mega parks, our household entertainment director (better known as my better half) is always on the lookout for a less-corporate touch—especially when it comes to creating meaningful memories, like the first few fall festivities for little fellas facing falling foliage. (Say that three times fast.)

Last year we (by that, I mean she) found an awesome place a couple hours away that had everything you’d want in an Instagram-perfect placement, with hundreds of guests parking in designated roped-off areas like a mini theme park. It was efficient. Lil’Bit had an awesome time with the tractor, we got some good pictures, and it was good. Absolutely nothing bad to say about it.

This year that same entertainment director found an event invite for a ranch on the road coming home from church. The Rustic Ranch. It was a third of the price and had none of the fancy advertising or directions. We gave it a try.

Lil’Bit was asleep in the car when we arrived, so I was sent out as a forward scout to check it out. I stopped by the goat enclosure (where kids could pet and feed the goats) to see if I could find anything out. The nice lady spent five minutes telling me everything about the ranch, going over all the pricing and recommending what we should do. Wow.

The entire day was like this. Great customer service. At one point we were on a tractor ride, as far away from shelter as possible, when the Florida skies opened up. Twenty or so guests in an open wagon were getting drenched, and scared goats in an open field were running for cover under that same wagon. The workers kept us informed with smiles on their faces while the rain soaked their clothes. No one in the wagon got upset because, by that time, we were all a community.

Matthew recorded Christ’s teaching about how to treat each other with respect, kindness, and love. In Proverbs we are taught not only how to treat each other but also how to care for the animals in our charge.

Just a thought from a guy that was so blessed to have found a place that happily shows these values to their guests—not with fancy advertisements, but with the way they treat each and every neighbor that walks through their gate.

Bible Verses

Matthew 7 / Proverbs 12

Questions

When things go sideways, how do you keep the people around you comfortable?