"Blood Country"

I could see ‘em coming,

From the cloud of dust they made,

And I’d get so excited,

Hoped when they came, they stayed.

Just always glad to see ‘em,

Coming down our unpaved road,

And I’d run out to meet ‘em,

Guess my excitement showed.

Way out there in the country,

I’d spent a lot of time,

Alone horseback with the cattle,

If one got out to find.

Or maybe go to fix a fence,

Or doctor one that’s sick,

Dad thought it shouldn’t take much time,

He wanted it done quick.

It wasn’t I was lonely,

Least I don’t think I was,

And, Lord, I loved the pastures,

And the time spent there because,

It was my own blood country,

To me the land was kin,

From early to the sunset,

I’d never, ever been,

Tired of all the work we did,

Or time I spent alone,

But when folks came to see us,

A lot of love was shone.

Especially my cousins,

From South Carolina way,

Often we would see them,

On a special holiday.

Some folks do not like their kin,

They live their lives apart,

But we just didn’t feel that way,

We loved ‘em from the heart.

Mom would fill the table,

With awesome sides and meat,

And everyone would find their place,

When it was time to eat.

Often we’d get horseback,

A circle just for fun,

Laugh and talk and stories tell,

From each and every one.

Sometimes we’d go huntin’,

Or watch a game or two,

Football in the south is big,

And Bama won, it’s true.

And I remember singin’,

Good old gospel songs,

And everybody gathered ‘round,

And they all sang along.

Dad would read some poems,

He loved our country dear,

Most were patriotic,

It always brought a tear.

And with those times I still can see,

A life that most don’t know,

A country life, the cowboy way,

And time not fast, but slow.

Still love to be horseback alone,

And all that means to me,

But when the company’s on the way,

I’m always glad to see.

Life is rich when fellowship,

Is strong, close to the land,

And when you know the Lord above,

Has graced your family grand.

So, Lord, bless our blood country,

Please keep us safe and free,

Not forget the cowboy way,

And how things used to be.

“Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors…” (Proverbs 22:28, NIV)

In the land of the Bible families set up property boundaries with stone markers. Everyone in the family knew where the markers were, and it was a problem if you moved one, for obvious reasons. It was not only a matter of law, but of honor. There is a great spiritual lesson here. If we recognize and honor God’s boundaries and what has been given to us by former generations, we will be blessed. If we move the boundaries we lose our bearings and are lost. May we never move them, in Jesus’ name.

Lord, help us honor all that You have given us and the boundaries You have set, in Jesus’ name.

Art by JaNeil Anderson, janeilanderson. com. Used by permission. Thanks, JaNeil, and God bless you.