"Old Pastures"

It was lots of big leased pastures,

That Dad paid on dirt cheap,

Patched old fences, got ‘em bush-hogged,

But none he meant to keep.

But just to run those yearlings,

For a year then they were gone,

Made the money on the weight gain,

And did it decades long.

Cross-bred cattle up from Florida,

And always showing ear,

Native graze and fescue,

Did well when turned out here.

Unless they plumb decided,

To get real sick and die,

Or escape and keep on running,

Some left, at least their try.

So you had to get real handy,

With your pony and your rope,

Else that thin profit margin,

Was lost without a hope.

And Dad was halfway angry,

Pretty much for thirty years,

With everyone and everything,

A-grindin’ on his gears.

So we cowboyed all the winter,

Puttin’ out the cake and hay,

Roped and doctored all the sick ones,

Tried to make ‘em well okay.

And then all spring and summer,

It was ride and closely check,

And when the wild ones got out,

Get ‘em back without a wreck,

That came if you moved slowly,

Or tried to go too fast,

Or even if you sat and watched,

Their hide-out to outlast.

And finally the fall would come,

And then we’d make our gather,

Go early, try to get ‘em all,

The first time we went after.

Then ride back for the crazies,

Some laid down and hid,

In some old brushy thicket,

‘Cause that’s just what they did.

And some would throw their tail up,

Run like a speeding train,

As wild as any deer you saw,

With that cross-bred foolish brain.

And Dad would always ask us,

Boys, did you get ‘em all,

As the trucks were being loaded,

Count the cut and make the call.

And I never claimed we got ‘em,

But our cow boss always said,

All but maybe one or two,

And in his face I read,

A happy, sad exhaustion,

As we led our mounts away,

I knew we were not finished,

But we’d search another day.

I remember all the cowboys,

The horses and the cattle,

And those old long-lease pastures,

And a Billy Cook built saddle.

And, no, I do not wish ‘em back,

But thankful for those days,

It’s been a long, long time ago,

But they stay with me always.

When hard-working men together rode,

To do what must be done,

And took an eager kid along,

Who thought the work was fun.

“He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” (Psalm 103:5, NLT)

I remember well the cowboy days of my youth! I consider that time as a great blessing to me. Now that I am an older man I often reflect on the blessings of the past and God’s renewing strength for today. I have operated as youthfully as possible every step of the way, but it’s only because the Lord has faithfully given me strength. In the words of Toby Keith, “I’m not as good as I once was, but I’m as good once as I ever was!” Lots of truth there, but why? Because of God’s faithfulness and His promise of renewal. He literally renews our strength so that we do not easily succumb to those who act as if they’re already dead just because of mileage. Renew us, Lord!

Lord, we thank You for every blessing and ask for daily renewal, in Jesus’ name.

Robert “Shoofly” Shufelt, used by permission. Thanks, and God bless.