Chew the cud

My great-uncle Claudie (no I did not make that up) had a cattle farm in Picayune, Mississippi (that either). I remember going to visit, standing on the tailgate of his ancient Ford pick-up truck and feeding hay to the cows. This is an amazing memory for me. His farm was a hub for our family. There was a sense of home there that I cannot describe.

All these years later, I realize there was a great spiritual lesson going on there. Yes, they lived in the same house for some 70 years which was a great display of stability for us, but not that. They loved everyone and everyone was welcome anytime...that either. There was joy there and cousins came from all over the country to see each other in that place, but that is not what I am thinking of. I'm thinking about the cows, standing in the field, chewing their cud.

Cows will chew something, eat it and then regurgitate it and chew it again. It's called chewing the cud. I know that it sound gross but the cow will take the time to chew and enjoy the flavor of the grass and then regurgitate it and enjoy it again. This process turns the grass into a rich, creamy milk. This is called "chewing the cud."

Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

For most of us, our schedules are packed. We have so many things we need, or at least want, to do. In the craziness of our schedules we eke out some time to read our bibles and head into the day. When the scripture tells us to "meditate" on the scripture, it means for us to "chew the cud." We are suppose to take some time to chew on it, take in what the spirit says but then chew on it some more. The more we chew on it, the richer it gets.

Take the time to not just read over a passage today but to meditate...chew the cud. I know that is a bit gross for some of you but it's more grosser, yes I said more grosser, that we would miss something that the Lord has for us today. Chew the cud.