"Cows are Vegans"

I put on my cowboy hat,

And headed out the door,

I wondered ‘bout the cowboys,

Who’d gone out long before.

They jingled in their horses,

The got ‘em caught and saddled,

They rode out as the sun came up,

To search and find the cattle.

And that’s just what I’m doing,

One hundred years have passed,

But cowboy work continues,

And it will always last.

Why does it continue,

Why does it go on,

It’s all because this country,

Beef’s in their diet, home.

It really is that simple,

The people they will eat,

The roasts and steaks and burgers,

The taste is hard to beat.

As long as we use bovine,

For the protein that we need,

There always will be cowboys,

To care for them and feed.

So all the cowboy romance,

And western life mystique,

The bottom line is eating,

And not all that unique.

But that makes cowboys happy,

‘Cause we get to do,

All this horseback cattle work,

And this much is true,

If you are a vegan,

And won’t eat meat at all,

Just know that we still love you,

And here’s the reason, y’all,

The cows that cowboys care for,

Are vegans all the way,

And by the grass they process,

Make it clear everyday.

And one more thing remember,

Life’s basic, not confused,

We are what we are eating,

The calories we use.

Let’s use ‘em, keep on eating,

And let the cattle stay,

Out there and on the table,

For that’s the cowboy way.

“…people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord…” (Deut. 8:3, NLT)

Jesus quoted this Old Testament scripture when he was being tempted by satan in the wilderness. He had fasted for forty days and the devil tempted him to turn stones into bread. Jesus answered with this scripture. It was how he chose to overcome what the enemy wanted him to do. It has been said that we are what we eat. Those who say such things are referring to our physical diet and there is much truth to the statement. But, more importantly, it is true spiritually. What is our spiritual diet? What do we allow to feed our souls and our spirits? The Old Testament scripture that Jesus quoted is clear: we live by the words God speaks. We digest what he says to us, and his truth gives us spiritual calories and energy to do God’s will. If one ignores God’s words, they will be spiritually anorexic and dehydrated. They will have no energy for mission, and if they survive at all, will be of little use for Kingdom purposes. God speaks. We consume his words. That’s how it works.

Lord, help us to receive a steady diet of Your words, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tyler Crow, tylercrow.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Tyler, and God bless you.