"Cowboyed Long"

He cowboyed long, he cowboyed hard,

And ne’er let down a single pard,

But time’s not always very kind,

To ones like him so hard to find.

For the brand he took his stand,

Required no one to understand,

Slipped his coil close to the soil,

Defined by bovine seasons’ toil.

Joints get stiff and soon the riff,

‘Tween what he does and only if,

The Advil works and no calf jerks,

Though often slow no chore he shirks.

He wakes, his mind deliberates,

On chances, choices that he takes,

And miles he has to horseback go,

In places only cattle know.

The circle steep but he will keep,

His word to finish and complete,

To go that extra mile you know,

Though at the finish might get slow.

And in the end the time he’ll spend,

Not measured by how fast he’s been.

But rather by the quality,

Of cowboy work done honestly.

His hat slipped back, the saddle rack,

Holds his bosals and his cack,

And sittin’ down with steamin’ cup,

From that rocker he looks up,

At star-lit skies and all the tries,

Of all the men whose age defies,

What others say they cannot do,

And still go on, ‘cause they’re not through.

“As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me- the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8, NLT)

Paul knew when he had about finished his race and the Lord was ready to call him home. The point to remember is that it’s not over until God says so. Until then we do what Paul did- remain faithful. Sometimes people get overwhelmed and give up long before God is through with them. That’s a shame because sometimes the best victories come at the end. Let us all purpose to keep on keeping on until Jesus calls us or comes again.

Lord, help us to faithfully live until the end, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Don Weller, used by permission. Thanks, Don, and God bless you.