Lessons from a Cowdog

The phone alarm went off telling me it was time to wake up. I leaned over trying to find the “stop” button and rolled over for a few more winks. 

Mornings have been quiet since we’ve been home from the hospital.  

I pitter around the kitchen finishing up dishes that didn’t get done the night before, maybe throw in a load of wash, if it’s that time of the week and sweep the kitchen floor. Walking on bare feet makes me sensitive to any dirt dragged in from the back yard.

Then I get the coffee going. Which reminds me, I’m low on filters and need to run to Walmart. Ha!!

I love my mornings!! It’s the best time of my day!! 

While my hubby regains his strength, we’ve had some opportunity to do some reading. We finished a book by John R. Erickson, author of “Hank, the Cowdog.” A fun read about a small-town guy who pursues big dreams. He ends up at Harvard. Then leaves it all behind only three hours short of a degree and eventually moves to a ranch to become a cowboy. 

Yep, didn’t know they still had’em, did ya? Well, they do. He loved the work, but he was as poor as a church mouse. Not sure why church mice are poor. What kind of mouse has money anyway??

Well, let’s not get side-tracked with meeces, mice or mouses. 

What I loved about this story is how dedicated he was to learning, not necessarily the kind of learning that comes from academics…but the kind that comes from meeting people, working with your hands and hard work. 

He also wanted to become a writer. Beginning in his college days, he would get up early in the morning and write for four hours a day!!! He had crazy dedication. It took him years to get something published.  

And then, he found Hank. 

He had no idea what he had found. There were no sparks of “Ericka, I’ve found it!!” It just fit him like an old pair of cowboy boots. It was a simple story of ranch life through the eyes of a dog who had delusions of grandeur and wasn’t very smart. 

"When I’m alone, I’m in the company of the most interesting dog I know."

"I’ve never been convinced that the sun would come up without me barking."
"I’m flatulent in many languages."

"Confession is good for all of us, but even better for you than for me." 

"Even dogs who do poorly in other departments can keep their jobs by scoring well in Sympathy."

My favorite is “HANK THE COWDOG AND THE CHICKEN HOUSE MURDERS.”   

Yet, he was not convinced it would work on an adult audience. Kids, yes. Adults…hmmm, not so sure. He was invited to speak at a rotary club and thought, “This is my opportunity. I’ll try it out on a live audience.” He was shocked. The audience roared with laughter, and he was beginning to wonder if he needed to administer oxygen to the town’s optometrist.

“Johnny,” he said. “You need to do more with that dog!” And the rest is history. 

He worked hard at his craft, and it paid off. There were many times he felt like quitting, but he kept at it. I think there’s a lesson in his story. 

Our church is going through the book of Joshua. God has promised the Israelites the land of Canaan. Though, He promises to go with them and even fight for them, they must go into the land and take it. God doesn’t hand it to them on a silver platter. They must fight for it!!!

Like Joshua, God has given us promises.  

We need to know what those promises are, obey what God tells us to do and believe what God says is ours and take it!!!! 

Sometimes I wonder if we as Christians give up a little too easily, saying, “it just wasn’t God’s will.” Maybe deep down we don’t expect to face obstacles. We don’t expect to work hard and learn from our mistakes.

Have I given up on a worthy goal? Are there areas of my life where I need to fight a little harder or a little longer? Let us come near to the heart of God. Be quiet and hear what He has to say. 

For our God has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence… For He has granted to us precious and magnificent promises…Now for this very reason apply diligence to your faith…and fight the good fight!!!”  

Scripture to ponder:  Hebrews 11:6; 2 Peter 1:3-5; 1 Timothy 6:12