"Cowboy Pedicure"

Had some trouble with a toenail,

In-grown and it hurt,

You just need a pedicure,

She gave me that alert.

It’s not that I’m so fearful,

To have an old hoof trim,

I’ll be still for that farrier,

Make it easier for him.

But at the age of seventy,

I never had one done,

But why not, let’s go to town,

It might be lots of fun.

But this is quite a different deal,

As I was soon to learn,

Put both feet in hot water,

My face showed some concern.

The lady started workin’,

A clippin’ and a-diggin’,

A time or two she hit a nerve,

I bucked up through my riggin’.

I couldn’t understand her words,

She spoke in tongues to me,

And also wore a little mask,

And I’m half-way deef you see.

She went to rubbin’ on my legs,

And had no regard,

For all the bow-leg fur I have,

‘Bout rubbed it off, that hard.

My dear wife laughed beside me,

Encouraged every step,

She got all her nails done, too,

Toes and fingers prep.

And pretty soon it’s over,

They’re proud of what they do,

I could have bought a bridle,

For what they put me through.

But my feet are feelin’ tingly,

Looks like my toe is well,

So reckon I’ll go back again,

You just can never tell.

A cowboy with a pedicure,

This old horse can stand,

Rasp him off and rub him down,

He’ll trot to beat the band.

“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening- it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way…” (Hebrews 12:11, NLT)

God is committed to changing our lives and make us better. But sometimes the discipline required to change is painful. If you start working out your muscles will get sore before they get stronger. This pedicure was needed but there were painful moments on the way to healthier feet! Our parents disciplined us in order to teach us how to live. We didn’t like it, but it worked out fine. Life is full of examples. The Lord loves us just the way we are, but too much to leave us the way we are. He loves us enough to discipline us, and that shows we belong to Him.

Lord, help us embrace Your discipline in order to have a harvest of righteousness in our lives, in Jesus’ name.

Photo by Kirstie Lambert, used by permission. Thanks, Kirstie, and God bless you.