"Branding"

Not a single hand was laggin’,

The branding fires are lit,

And all the calves they’re draggin’,

Are singed before we quit.

No matter if the weather,

Cooperates or not,

Just get it done together,

We love this time a lot.

Just take your turn at ropin’,

Then step down for awhile,

Everybody’s hopin’,

They get ‘em caught with style.

And when this branding’s over,

We’ll barbeque and eat,

And every friend and drover,

Will say this can’t be beat.

Then all the horses loaded,

And all will say good-bye,

The kids have to be goaded,

Sometimes they even cry.

We’ll remember every sally,

Of the branding time and fun,

Every slippin’, slidin’ dally,

And the calves there on the run.

O Lord, we pray Your Kingdom brand,

Is burned upon our hearts,

And then across this sacred land,

We all will play our parts,

To honor God and nation,

And love our families true,

From every tribe and station,

It’s what good cowboys do.

“Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest or your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30, NLT)

The brand, as well as the yoke, are all about ownership. When calves are branded, the purpose is to show to whom they belong. We recently got our old family brand from Alabama, the “flying Mac,” registered in Parker County, Texas, and our horses carry that brand. All that to say that we as believers carry Jesus’ brand of ownership, but the way we show it is with our behavior. We receive salvation as a free gift, so this is not about earning anything. Rather, it’s about receiving eternal life. But once saved, we are called to live out His grace, and by the power of God’s Spirit, show that we belong to Him. This becomes God’s advertisement to lead others to Himself. We thankfully wear the Kingdom brand and, by His grace, faithfully point others to Him.

Lord, may the brand of Your love upon our hearts show clearly to others that we belong to You, in Jesus’ name.

Photo by Kirstie Lambert, used by permission. Thanks, Kirstie, and God bless you.