"Show Them"

 My heroes, all cowboys,

I studied their ways,

How they sat their horses,

And spent their long days.

I paid attention,

To the rope in their hands,

To the words of our cow boss,

When he made gather plans.

I watched when they lit up,

A ready-made smoke,

I laughed when they told me,

An old, nasty joke.

Turned red when they teased me,

About my girlfriend,

But I never expected,

It would come to an end.

Then Dad had reversals,

A man he shipped to,

Never paid for the cattle,

Went bankrupt, it’s true.

And soon ‘fore you know it,

It all was long gone,

The pastures of childhood,

Would no more belong,

To my Dad and my family,

We all moved to town,

I sure was shocked by it,

And I certainly found,

That what I learned watching,

Those old cowboy men,

Would never leave me,

Till right now since then.

Life has its changes,

We all know it’s true,

But don’t doubt the power,

Of example shown you.

And those who are watching,

Especially the young,

We should remember,

Where we have come from.

Let’s show them the old ways,

Of pasture and horse,

Life lived in the country,

And to do right, of course.

The sermon with power,

Is what they can see,

And then when we say it,

It will help them to be,

A person who’s ready,

To live the best way,

With faith in the Good Lord,

Beginning today.

“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father…” (Matthew 5:16, NLT)

When I was a kid growing up on a cattle ranch, I idolized the cowboys who worked for my Dad. I was fortunate that these men took me under their wing and showed me how to handle cattle a-horseback and to rope. It impacted me so strongly that I never got over it, and even now, at the age of seventy, I can remember things they did and said. Jesus said there was great power in letting our lights shine. He encouraged His disciples to lead by example and do good works that people could see. This was not to draw attention or praise to them, but rather was meant to bring glory to God. We are called to live it, so that our words will have credibility when we speak. Let it shine!

Lord, may our lifestyle bring honor to You, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Herman Walker, hermanwalker.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Herman, and God bless you.