"Roper"

I couldn’t even build a loop,

When I got my first rope,

It was so stiff and hard to coil,

I just about lost hope.

But I kept picking up those coils,

And tryin’ anyway,

And then I caught a bucket,

I won’t forget that day.

Later I bought better ropes,

They had a softer lay,

And from buckets up to huntin’ dogs,

And all that moved they say.

No matter goat or layin’ hen,

Or puppy in the yard,

I learned to throw the Houlihan,

Though at first so hard.

And then it was a-horseback,

I learned to catch a calf,

Sometimes in the ropin’ pen,

I made the cowboys laugh,

Cause I could never flank one,

I had to leg ‘em down,

And then gather that old piggin’ string,

To tie him on the ground.

And then to doctor yearlings,

To catch, then give a shot,

Best to head and heel one,

And we did that a lot.

Every rope was hard and fast,

That’s just the way we did,

After cattle in the brush,

When one or two were hid.

I remember then we hear about,

That dally roping thing,

And I was fascinated,

‘Cause it just beat everything.

So of course we had to try it,

Team roping was the fun,

And we never hesitated,

To make another run.

I’ve been on many gathers,

Caught wild cattle by the score,

I’ve dragged calves to the brandin’ fire,

But not as much no more.

My rope’s tied to my saddle,

Guess that the way it’s meant to be,

And I still can catch one,

‘Cause you don’t forget, you see.

But I’ll tell you I hear somethin’,

From old ropers that I see,

The more the years go swiftly by,

The better they used to be.

But don’t be too hard on ‘em,

‘Cause they’re ropin’ in their dreams,

And I see no harm in that,

Least that’s the way it seems.

And I am just so thankful,

That the Good Lord roped me in,

Gave to me salvation,

And forgave my sin.

‘Cause God’s the greatest roper,

To lead His children home,

To catch and to turn ‘em,

So they will never roam.

“But you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:25, NAS)

We continually strayed away from Him like wandering livestock. But He kept after us because He loves us. he does what is necessary to gather us to Himself, giving us what John Wesley called “prevenient grace.” That’s the grace that goes before salvation and before you’re even aware of it. He loves us, draws us, convicts us, and brings us to the point of accepting by faith what He did for us. We have returned because He helped and welcomed us. Praise the Lord.

Lord, help us to return to You, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bruce Greene, used by permission. Thanks, Bruce, and God bless you.