"Yoke"

If there’s any way to do it,

I surely hope you can,

I was sitting there a-horseback,

Talking with a cattleman.

He knew I had no money,

And knew I had no work,

He had some steers to gather,

But here’s the sketchy quirk,

He was willing to supply me,

With grub and other things,

But would only pay me,

By the head that I could bring,

Back to the ranch’s catch pens,

That was a ten-mile ride,

He knew where they had last been seen,

And where they ‘d likely hide.

He would pay ten dollars,

For each one that I caught,

And his best count was ten of them,

Least that was what he thought.

I hadn’t seen a hundred dollars,

In many months it seemed,

So we shook hands, I got supplied,

And a mule with whom I teamed.

Got there late next evening,

Set up my little camp,

Longside a spring and stone corral,

That’s where I lit my lamp.

And early the next morning,

First circle that I rode,

I cut sign of cattle,

Along a creek they showed.

Next day I hid and waited,

And shortly before dark,

Ten steers, they came to water,

I never made a start.

But then around my campfire,

Thought up a little plan,

If I could get them moving,

Just hoping that I can,

Herd them in that stone corral,

I knew the fence was strong,

And from there into the road,

And maybe before long,

Drive ‘em back and get my cash,

Before they get away,

Maybe with a little luck,

Get done in a couple days.

Next day waited by the little stream,

And sure enough they came,

Charged ‘em when they came to drink,

And turned ‘em just the same.

And when the dust was settled,

Jumped off to throw the gate,

Thought I penned all ten of them,

But I had only eight.

Next morning roped the biggest one,

And snubbed him to a post,

Then yoked him to my little mule,

To see what pulls the most.

And though that steer was bigger,

That little mule was strong,

And perty soon he broke the steer,

So he would lead along,

I let them out into the road,

The other steers behind,

For ten miles that’s just how we went,

Back to the ranch just fine.

I got paid eighty dollars,

I was feeling like a hand,

But what about the other two,

Asked that old cattle man.

He said if I’d go back for them,

And bring ‘em back like these,

He’d give me thirty dollars more,

I shook, said if you please,

I’d like to take that little mule,

And, better, I’ll take two,

And in just a little while,

I’m on the road, it’s true.

That night when we got back to camp,

Got my horse and two mules fed,

I thought I’ll never drive these steers,

I’ll have to rope instead.

Problem it was brushy,

Quick roping was the rule,

But if I could get them caught and tied,

Yoke each one to a mule.

Guess you can say I’m lucky,

I tracked ‘em by that creek,

Found where two had watered,

Been less than a week.

And very late next afternoon,

There those big steers stood,

Bet they weighed twelve hundred each,

I’d rope ‘em if I could.

Stuck one loop on the slow one,

And dallied round a tree,

Got gone before he knew it,

Or hurt my horse or me.

The last one was a-runnin’,

Almost too dark to see,

But before he got away,

A caught steer he would be.

Early the next morning,

I led the little mules,

Down to where the steers were tied,

And man, those steers were fools.

I had a devil of a time,

But finally got ‘em yoked,

And then let loose my lariat ropes,

And the kickin’ fires were stoked.

I just reined back and watched it,

It was quite a sight,

Every time a steer would jerk,

Those mules would kick and fight.

And pretty soon I trotted off,

The mules followed behind,

The steers they didn’t like it,

But there was no escape to find.

It took all day to ride it,

A few times stopped to play,

But before the sun went down,

We made ten miles that day.

The cattleman he paid me,

The thirty dollars fine,

Five extra for my trouble,

I moved on down the line.

But I won’t forget it,

The time those mules came through,

When rank, old steers led like a dog,

What yoking up can do.

“Take My yoke upon you…” (Matthew 11:29. NLT)

What was an old fashioned yoke for? It was made to keep an animal on track and going the right direction. Jesus said if we took His yoke and learned from Him, His yoke was easy and His burden was light. Compared to what? Compared to being yoked with something addictive or unhealthy. Jesus said if we accepted His yoke He would bring us refreshment and relief. He would take our heavy burdens and show us how to stay on track. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Lord, help us accept Your yoke, in Jesus’ name.

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