"Zippo"

Way back in my younger days,

I loved to start those colts always,

And one big gray he was unfazed,

By all I put him through.

‘Bout third ride he did not buck,

I thought it was all good luck,

But all about to come unstuck,

The truth I’m telling you.

I reached into my pocket then,

I used to smoke those lights back when,

Fired up my zippo, yes, a sin,

My pony broke in half.

My confidence was overplayed,

And quickly the mistake I made,

I wish now I had delayed,

That smoke, I had to laugh.

Meanwhile I held both the reins,

Taking all the greatest pains,

To get his head up, use my brains,

To stop this bucking fit.

But suddenly the right rein broke,

That pony never missed a stroke,

And headed to the fence, no joke,

No sign that he would quit.

Just before he hit the wire,

I stepped off, he did not tire,

But stopped as if he lost desire,

And acted like he’s broke.

That was when I realized,

My pinky he had traumatized,

Broke the knuckle, no surprise,

Because I lit that smoke.

Led that horse around and round,

Quickly he was all calmed down,

Stepped back on no problem found,

In spite of pinkie pain.

Later on I clearly thought,

Maybe learn the lesson taught,

Been better if I hadn’t brought,

My pride aboard that train.

Sometimes that finger in the night,

Lets me know it’s not all right,

Grew back crooked, what a sight,

Not something you forget.

Reminds me of what pride can do,

Injury and no doubt true,

God resists in me and you,

With no exceptions yet.

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble…” (1 Peter 5:5, NIV)

There are no exceptions to this rule. God always opposes the proud and always gives grace to the humble. When our pride gets the best of us, God resists our egotism in order to teach us to walk humbly with Him. Humility is the grace-trigger for every need and every new step of faith. It’s sometimes a hard and painful lesson, but it’s always worth it because of the grace that floods the humble. Count on it.

Lord, help us to humble ourselves so that we may receive Your grace, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bruce Greene, brucegreeneart.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Bruce, and God bless you.