"Whoop and Spur"

When we see that pony pitchin’,

It will clap and holler bring,

And if the cowboy rides him,

It just beats everything.

And I know about the horsemen,

Who think that it’s all wrong,

If a horse that they are working with,

Gets to bucking’ much along.

That aside, with a buckin’ ride,

A lot of life is seen,

‘Cause everybody’s straddled,

The jumps that life has been.

And sometimes we can ride it out,

And never hit the ground,

And other times we get bucked off,

Our plans to ride confound.

Then we have to make a choice,

About what happens next,

Do we step back on and try,

Or use it as pretext,

To quit and never ride again,

And have a good excuse,

Or overcome our fear and go,

We can, and so we choose.

Hey, you can see the parallel,

With life and that wild ride,

And since it is a parable,

In you I will confide,

That every time I’ve had a fall,

I learned so I could grow,

And getting up and going on,

Was something all should know.

So if you’re lying in the dirt,

And think this is the end,

Get on your feet and clear your head,

And whoop and spur, my friend.

“…if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path…” (Galatians 6:1, NLT)

We all have our challenges and failings, and the last thing anybody needs is to be put down when they’re down. Sometimes Christians are guilty of shooting our wounded, which is always a shame. When we fall, God wants us to confess our sin, get back up and keep on going. When we are aware others have fallen, we should do what this verse says: gently and humbly help them back onto the right path. It goes on to say we should be careful not to fall into temptation ourselves and to bear each other’s burdens. This is honest advice about what to do when, not if, people get into trouble. It’s life, and it’s the reality that is there even when we pretend it’s not. Follow God’s word and get up when you fall. Help someone else get up, too.

Lord, help us to bear each other’s burdens, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bill Owen, used by permission. Thanks, Bill, and God bless you.