"F-Ones"

Rode down off the caprock,

From a walk to a long trot,

A-huntin’ those F-ones gone wild.

Hidin’ their babies,

No ifs, ands or maybes,

Missin’ six head from our file.

Found the place where they pushed through,

Both the cows and the calves, too,

They were travelin’ like they knew where to go.

Cross a range that was spring-fed,

That’s right where the tracks led,

Escapees long gone don’t you know.

Of a sudden there they grazed,

The distance gone unfazed,

All jerked down our ropes right away.

Most all stayed together,

Grouped like they were tethered,

‘Cept one boltin’ old hussy stray.

Head and tail both held way high,

Herd-quittin’ she’d fly,

With a fine calf full speed by her side.

The race was a fast one,

But no way she could outrun,

That old pony of mine though she tried.

By gosh then we caught her,

The calf, too, we got her,

And ponied ‘em up really close.

And then with the whole bunch,

A-horseback to cow punch,

Sometimes it’s just how it all goes.

Those good F-one mamas,

Can give you their dramas,

But a bovine that’s sure hard to beat.

But if you cowboy the caprock,

You’ll soon run for your livestock,

And those F-ones can be mighty fleet.

Reminds me of when I ran,

As fast as e’er I can,

To escape the Good Lord who loved me.

But His loop is faster,

And no doubt the Master,

Can bring you back where you should be.

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20, NLT).

In Jesus’s story of the prodigal son my favorite part is when he finally comes to his senses and decides to go home to his father. Jesus draws a beautiful picture of God’s love when He describes how the father sees his lost son coming from a long way off and runs to meet him! There’s just something wonderfully powerful about the God of mercy who runs to meet us with compassion. Many don’t realize that’s the way God really is. They think He’s angry with arms folded and requiring penance. Not true. He ran to meet him, embraced and kissed him, then threw a welcome party. Everyone would come home sooner if they only knew.

Lord, thanks for bringing us home, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bill Owen, used by permission. (cowhorsegallery.com). Thanks, and God bless.