Every fortnight people from a farming background, or who have a heart for the countryside in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, offer a personal reflection on faith and rural life. They hope that you will be encouraged by it.

Seventy-five years ago, this paper carried news of my great-uncle Bill’s success at the 1951 Royal Ulster Agricultural Society’s Spring Show and Sale, which was held at Balmoral, Belfast.

The report stated: “Aberdeen Angus Association’s Cup and Medal for the best heifer, two-year-old or yearling bred by an exhibitor resident in Ireland, WJ McConnell, Rathfriland – Sylvia of Cavan.”

Cavan is our townland in County Down and the name of our family farm is Cavan Hill. It was the passion of my grandfather, James, and his brother William (Bill) to breed Aberdeen Angus cattle. In our family home are hardback copies of the official herd yearbooks that contain a wealth of information.

The McConnell herd in the Aberdeen Angus Herd Book for 1955.

placeholder image — The McConnell herd in the Aberdeen Angus Herd Book for 1955.

They are fascinating and tell part of the history of our farm, especially when that generation is no longer here. Each year, pedigree cattle born were listed with their date of birth, dam (mother) and sire (father) along with their official names. Female names in the herd included Jessica of Cavan, Patsy of Cavan and Jessinina of Cavan, while some of the males recorded are Rocko of Cavan, Penman of Cavan, Julian Eric of Cavan, Peerless of Cavan and Grandee of Cavan. My favourites though have to be Princess of Cavan and the Proud Prince of Cavan.

‘MNR’ was the code of the herd registered to WJ & JH McConnell, Cavan, Rathfriland, Co Down. To identify them, these initials, along with a number, were tattooed onto the right ear of each animal. Even if sold on, you could still trace the animal back to its original owner.

In the Bible, there is a reference in the Old Testament book of Isaiah that says God calls us by our names: “But now, this is what the LORD says – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine’” (Isaiah 43:1).

God knows everything about us - even the very number of hairs on our head (Luke 12:7). He knows the individual pains we carry and the things that bring us joy in our lives. He knows not just the names of our parents and our grandparents - he knows everything about our ancestors. His knowledge of every human on planet earth is overwhelming - so too the love he has for everyone. In fact, for those who know and love him, he has engraved our names on the palm of his hand (Isaiah 49:16).

There is a very famous verse you might have read before or seen around the countryside: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). By celebrating Easter Sunday last weekend, we remember the death of Jesus on the cross. When we believe that Jesus died and rose again for our sins, we can have eternal life and a place in heaven when we die. God made this redemption plan for us when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden.

In the last book of the Bible, Revelation, there is mention of the Lamb’s Book of Life – a heavenly register in which are inscribed the names of those who receive eternal salvation through trust and faith in Jesus (Revelation 13:8; 21:27). This book is much more important than any herd book, or indeed any other book in the whole world. Will you put your trust and faith in Jesus so that your name will be recorded there?

Rebecca McConnell was raised on a mixed farm in Rathfriland, County Down and is a freelance PR and social media consultant, running her own company, Purple Rain, since 2011. She is a member of First Rathfriland Presbyterian Church and is an officer in their Girls’ Brigade Company.

If you would like to talk to someone about any of the issues raised in this article, please email Rev Kenny Hanna, PCI’s Rural Chaplain at [email protected] or call him on 07938 488 372.