"Hand"

He tipped his old brown cowboy hat,

Stepped on his horse and just like that,

Rode off and he was gone.

But the time we had I won’t forget,

No doubt the Good Lord had it set,

Surprised it’s been so long.

He rode up to my Daddy’s gate,

Loped right up and wasn’t late,

Said he needed work.

I said we’d go and talk to him,

He’d just got back from where he’d been,

Dad had no use for shirk.

The old man smiled and said okay,

And let me take the lead that day,

Long trotted to the barn.

Surprised when Daddy shook his hand,

They talked of years back on the land,

Back-slapped and spun a yarn.

Turns out that they had rodeoed,

Back when the Turtle bunch had showed,

Years had passed since then.

But like two brothers with their smiles,

Recalling all their many miles,

And now back home again.

And so the days turned into weeks,

And cross the pastures and the creeks,

We rode ‘bout every day.

To doctor calves and check the fence,

And all that I remember since,

Too much for me to say.

And I was young and mighty raw,

But what I thought, believed I saw,

Was just a fast way out.

From ranchin’ and this country place,

Where I toiled a steady pace,

To town I knew the route.

But my Dad’s friend, we had some talks,

And when he saw my many balks,

He’d plant a seed in me.

About the cowboy way he knew,

And all it meant for us to do,

And what could make men free.

And over time he also said,

How Christ had died and from the dead,

He was raised for us.

And though I did not really see,

Came to know He died for me,

Dad’s friend never made a fuss.

I won’t forget when off the grid,

We camped one night for cows that hid,

And talked into the night.

And ‘fore we slept I said a prayer,

And I was saved right then and there,

The stars were shinin’ bright.

Some months went past, he said good-bye,

To me and Dad, I did not cry,

But, brother, I came close.

I rode awhile beside my friend,

And when our ranch came to an end,

We spoke of what I’d chose.

To go with God, the Savior’s way,

And trust in heaven’s home one day,

Till then to cowboy up.

He promised me he’d always pray,

Though he must go and could not stay,

His hand-shake filled my cup.

And now so long ago it seems,

And I’ve grown old but in my dreams,

I think of that old man.

The one who brought the Lord to me,

And said enough so I could see,

My way into God’s hand.

And I still wear that brand…

“Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out…” (Ps. 107:2, NLT)

Speaking out and speaking up is not negotiable for believers in Jesus Christ. We’ve all heard people say that actions speak louder than words. Maybe so. But our faith is to be verbally shared as well as practically lives. In other words we walk the walk so we can more effectively talk the talk. But we try not to miss any opportunity the Lord gives us to tell what He’s done for us. Why are Christians so reticent to do this? Many reasons, but none that legitimately excuse us from what the Bible actually tells us to do. When we do, we find that God will use our words to touch the hearts of people that we thought we might not ever impact. He will actually speak through us. We don’t have to make it happen. But we should let it happen, beginning today.

Lord, speak through us, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Grant Redden, grantredden.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Grant, and God bless you.