We look at cattle, a lot! We look at cattle everyday, really. Somedays, husband and I will just jump on the four-wheeler or side-by-side in the afternoon, and ride through the cattle for relaxation. I know, it’s weird. We talk about our day or whatever is coming up; sometimes we talk about the cows. We make decisions on who should go and who should stay. It’s our time together. Yesterday, we did this as a wind-down from a full weekend and on our way back to the house, I asked him to stop the buggy so I could get out and take a few pictures.
Like a lot of other times, I knew there was a Word brewing in my spirit. I looked at the pasture that was overloaded with cattle. We have brought home the entire herd from the winter pastures. All of the cattle are here at home while the winter grass is dying and the summer grass is trying to take off. There are a LOT of cows all together and it is pretty unusual for us to have most of them all in one pen.
As I stood there snapping a few phone pics, I knew what God was saying…
Be the gray Brahman.
All of our cattle are a reddish in color. Even the cattle that are Brahman influenced, and not our breed of Fleckvieh Simmental, are reddish in color. We still have a handful of black cows that are used to carry embryo calves, but predominately, we are all red; but even the black cattle seem to blend in and not stand out when you are looking at the entire herd. But there is one girl in the field that stands out. The gray Brahman.
We took a chance and bred one of our cows this year to a gray Brahman bull and the result is awesome. This little girl is a standout in more ways than one. But the obvious difference is, she is GRAY! You can pick her out in a crowd. She is different! When you look at the herd, you see her.
As I stood and took pictures, I heard the Lord say it, “Be different. Stand out. Don’t blend in.” In other words, “Be the gray Brahman!”
God is calling us to stand out. When we stand out, we will stand up. We have to be different; we cannot continue to blend in. We must be different. One of my favorite scriptures, 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 says, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Being separate makes you stand out. When you separate yourself from the crowd, you are the one that is noticed. Why not be noticed for our Christian beliefs and our standards? Why shouldn’t we be noticed for our stand on certain issues? Is it too much to ask that we look like Christ and not the world? Why shouldn’t someone know and recognize us as Christians without every hearing a word come out of our mouths?
When someone comes to the farm, they will always ask about the gray heifer. They can’t help it. She’s different and they know it immediately and they just have to know about her.
Why don’t Christians look different? Why? Most times it comes down to fear. It’s hard to be different. Sometimes it is alienating. Often times it may cause us to lose friends or even business deals/jobs, but in the end, He didn’t call us to blend in. He called us to “come out from among them and be different.”
He called us to be the standouts. He called us to be in this world but not of it. John 15:19
When we look different, when we are different, others will always want to know why. You want to witness? You want an open door? Be different. They will have to ask. They will always want to know more.
Lord, may we come out from all that is around us and be different. Even on the hard days and in the difficult situations, may we choose different. Lord, give us the strength to stand out and in doing so, You will call us your sons and daughters. In that, there is blessing and opportunity. Lord today, help us to be different. Help us to be the gray Brahman!
Your style is very unique compared to other people I’ve read stuff from. Thanks for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this page.
Good one Heather but then again they all speak to me!!
The Holy Spirit does a good work!
I love your analogy of the gray Brahman. Your posts are always near and dear, and always promote a deep seeded thought to ponder, and reflect on. Your cattle are beautiful especially the “gray Brahman.”🙏🏻🥰
Thank you. I pray we all desire to be different and stand out in this world!
She IS beautiful!! I remember as a little girl my grandmother did ceramics and had painted a beautiful gray Brahman bull that she displayed on her fireplace mantel. I remember how smooth it looked and how the gray of it was such a soothing color. They are unique. I liked your message about standing out – being salt and light in a world that is desperately seeking what only Jesus can offer. Thanks for the pictures and the message. Both awesome!
I love it when people can connect to both the cattle and the message!