"Gather"

Dad got home from buying cows,

And asked me how things went,

All day long we’d gathered steers,

And on the big trucks sent.

 

I do believe we got ‘em all,

I gave to him the count,

Thinking that I got It right,

Exactly the amount.

 

I said nine hundred sixty-three,

He said we missed nineteen,

I told him we’d go back again,

For those we hadn’t seen.

 

I have to say I doubted some,

Though Dad was rarely wrong,

When it came to countin’ cattle,

And where they all belong.

 

We made some calls and sure enough,

A neighbor said he saw,

A few big steers on his place,

Across a brushy draw.

 

He thought fifteen or twenty,

They had to be the ones,

So next day we went after,

Before the morning sun.

 

Sittin’ horseback as the light came on,

We could hear but barely see,

Nineteen head of big old steers,

Just where he said they’d be.

 

Carefully and quietly,

We got around that bunch,

And with any luck at all,

We’d have ‘em in ‘fore lunch.

 

And almost true except for two,

Both crossbred fools and fleet,

And at the dinner table,

Dad waited at his seat.

 

So y’all go back tomorrow,

And get the rest for sure,

You might just have to rope ‘em,

Could be the only cure.

 

So same place the next mornin’,

We sat our horses there,

And just as the sun came up,

Took down our ropes with care.

 

The first one caught and heeled just right,

The second dodged a rope,

And then he hit the thicket,

And I was losing hope,

 

But we went in right after,

And in a clearing not too far,

I tossed my loop, got lucky,

And like cowboy zone radar,

 

We got that old boy gathered,

With the other loaded, gone,

And that night at supper,

Dad asked me just how long,

 

It took to get the job done,

And I told him what’s true,

He said I’m glad you got ‘em,

Just like I told you to.

 

I’m reminded of the Good Book,

When souls are gathered in,

The Lord wants not one left behind,

No matter where we’ve been.

 

Go back and look for others,

The count includes ‘em all,

Don’t rest until you find ‘em,

And bring to them God’s call.

 

For Jesus died to save them,

God wills that they return,

And we are in the gather,

To share the Lord’s concern.

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NAS)

God is not just interested in some people. The scriptures tell us He is no respecter of persons. That means He has no favorites. He loves all of us unconditionally, meaning He gives His love based upon His goodness and not our merit. Grace is unmerited favor. Jesus died to deliver this grace to each and every one of us. God so loved the whole world…And Peter affirms that it is God’s will for all to come to repentance. Some would argue that God would not waste the death of His Son on those who are not chosen to be saved. They are wrong. That is precisely what God did through Jesus. The way is open, the sacrifice is made, and the gather continues. All means all.

Lord, help us realize Your gather is not for some, but for all, in Jesus’ name

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

Brad McClain