The Doc Bar Legacy

P s a l m 7 8 : 4 

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders. (NLT)

I recently watched a documentary on the famous cutting horse Sire Doc Bar. Foaled in 1956, Doc Bar gave hopes to the Finley Ranch in Arizona of another racing champion. He had the look of a winner and he came from great racing bloodlines. But his racing career proved to be an epic failure after four races with winnings of only ninety-five dollars. Having great conformation and good looks, the owners chose to try him in the halter class. Doc Bar’s conformation and style soon changed what judges looked for in a great halter horse. Out of the fifteen halter horse events that Doc Bar was shown in, he won nine grand championships and one reserve championship. It was at the height of his success in the halter horse industry that his owners decided to retire him and concentrate on Doc Bar’s future as a stud. This began his real legacy as a performance horse sire.

Believing that Doc Bar possessed the traits that could change yet another part of the horse industry, his owners began training Doc Bar’s foals and showing them in the cutting horse events. Doc Bar went on to sire famous offspring such as Doc O’Lena and grand-get Smart Little Lena, among many other great horses. His offspring have become National Cutting Horse Futurity champions, and many have become world champions. His ability to pass on his amazing talent was shown in 1983, when twenty-one out of the twenty-three finalists at the NCHA Futurity carried Doc Bar’s blood. His offspring have gone on to receive tens of millions of dollars in earnings. As  I watched this documentary about this amazing horse, what stood out to me most was not all the things that he accomplished himself in the show ring, but how much success the horses that he sired had following him. The fact is, Doc Bar changed the cutting horse industry like no other horse has, and he never once showed in a cutting horse event. That astounds me.

I heard a pastor say one time, “Our greatest legacy is not what we do, but who we raise.” I know for myself, there have been times in my life where I’ve focused much of my time and energy on what I could accomplish as a leader in the church. I’ve given the church my best and have, in many ways, fallen short as a husband and father. At times, I’ve neglected teaching and leading my own children to live for Christ. And to be honest, I still struggle with putting ministry and others ahead of my family. The truth is, I’ve been given the honor of raising three wonderful kids, and God has revealed to me that they are my greatest legacy. Sure, I’m called to make a difference at my job and lead people to a relationship with Jesus, but my first calling is to pass on to my daughter and sons a spiritual legacy that will outlast us all. I’m called to raise them to love Jesus with all their hearts, to teach them to love and live by His Word, to show them what it looks like to love your spouse and raise a godly family. Doc Bar’s lasting legacy isn’t based on what he did but who he raised. We should want the same to be said of us.

C H E W  O N  T H I S 

Are you more focused on what you do, than who God has entrusted you to raise? Are you chasing a title or a dream that won’t last? It’s time to ask God to turn your focus to what really matters in life, to help you lead your family well and leave a legacy that will last for eternity.

P R A Y E R 

Lord, show me where my true focus is. I don’t want to leave an earthly legacy that won’t last. I want to leave an eternal legacy and I want it to start with my own children. Give me the strength, energy, and commitment I need to raise kids that love and serve you.