"Used to Be"

I often talk to used-to-be’s,

Who once were top hands strong,

Great stories from their memories,

And how they got along.

And I’m not quite a used-to-be,

Though older and I guess,

That what I say may not agree,

With me when at my best.

Suspect I might exaggerate,

How good with rope and rein,

What used to be if I could rate,

And go back there again.

But no one can, ‘cause time we spend,

Can never be unspent,

Corralled like cattle we once penned,

But gone now, there they went.

I sometimes talk to wanna-be’s,

They speak as if they know,

Of horse and cow and if you please,

With their expertise to show,

How you should or should-a done,

If tendin’ livestock right,

If you object they might make fun,

Of someone they can slight.

Patience with them serves me well,

If I can patient be,

And not react with words that tell,

How small they seem to me.

Used-to-be’s and wanna-be’s,

And all those in between,

The punchers and the don’t you sees,

And those who might have been.

But there is One above it all,

And He’s always the same,

The good news we can hear His call,

And Jesus is His name.

He will meet us where we are,

And love us through and through,

Knows us, though we’ve wandered far,

And I am telling you,

Has a special place for wanna-be’s,

And used-to-be’s as well,

Offers us the Kingdom’s keys,

And saves our souls from hell.

No matter where you’re comin’ from,

A novice or top hand,

Call on God’s begotten Son,

And ride for Jesus’ brand.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8, NLT)

Life is filled with people who typically pretend they were more than they were or more than they are now. Oftentimes folks wear masks to hide their inexperience or lack of wisdom from others. The fear is that if people know us as we really are, they will not accept or love us. The truth is that Jesus knows us best and loves us the most. Though others may be unpredictable, He is always the same and is always faithful. When we receive our confidence from Him we can be at peace. He secures us with our God-given identity, and there is no need to spin it to our advantage. Since He is for us, who can be against us?

Lord, fill us with confidence based upon Your faithfulness, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Martin Grelle, used by permission. Thanks, Martin, and God bless you.