"Ouchy"

That pony’s back was ouchy,

When we eased the saddle down,

From all the work, and that hard jerk,

Catchin’ cattle far from town.

But we knew he’d be all right,

Just had some muscles sore,

Let him rest, he did his best,

Turned out a day or more.

I asked old Sid a question,

Just what does “ouchy” mean,

If he was sick, we’d doctor quick,

He looked at me real keen.

Said when we’re catchin’ cattle,

And the big ones we must drag,

The muscles strain, and strength will drain,

And it can hurt that nag.

And if you press your fingers down,

On those old muscles there,

He might wince and then convince,

You’d better take good care.

And give him just a little break,

Touchy without the “t,”

Ouchy makes him grouchy,

It’s just like you or me.

I’ve known some folks along the way,

They’re hard to be around,

They are sore, and it’s a chore,

To listen to the sound,

Of all of their complainin’,

About what’s always wrong,

Their ouchy makes ‘em grouchy,

Been hurtin’ for so long.

Pray the Lord can heal ‘em,

They’ll be impaired till then,

Lord, heal the pain, and then they’ll gain,

The ground they lost back when.

“By His wounds you are healed…” (1 Peter 2:24, NLT)

All of us need healing, and some more than others. If we are wounded and don’t allow God’s grace to relieve us, the pain may be invisible but it doesn’t go away. It’s always there, and then someone comes along and touches that sore place. They may have no idea what’s happening, but we end up reacting, and often over-reacting because we are not well. The scriptures talk about a root of bitterness that poisons many. The answer is to choose, with God’s help, to forgive the way God forgave us and allow the grace to relieve the thing that makes us “ouchy.” No matter how long you’ve been this way, it can change starting now.

Lord, heal our sore places, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Don Dane, dondane.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Don, and God bless you.