By: Aaron Davis

His days are long and hard from sun up to sun down, and nights are short.

His young body feels old and worn out.

He counts his blessings every day though, not like some.

He don’t drop to his knees as often as need be,

But he looks up to the heavenly skies

whether it’s raining, blistering hot or bone-chillin’ cold.

He knows his Maker made all these things for him,

And he’s thankful for them and his good friends and the new ones he’s trying to make.

He’s the keeper of God’s creation: he toils the land and tends to His creatures

From the ornery Braham cows whose calves that won’t suck

To the heifers’ calves he has to pull or the sick or cripple yearling he has to doctor.

He’s traveled many a place, but his momma always told him

God put in every place for a reason.

From the piney woods of East Texas at birth to the foothills of Arkansas

From the bayous and swamps of Louisiana to the western plains of Kansas,

But for all the places he’s been, good or bad, they’ve made him what he is today.

He strayed from the big herd like so many, but with a little punching along he was put back into the herd.

After seeing a beautiful Kansas sunrise one Sunday morning, he gave his life to Jesus Christ.

In all his travels, he ended up where he started.

Some see him for his rough and gruff ways, but deep down he’s tender,

And his love for his life style and his passion for kids keeps him going.

He’s not rich in gold and silver but love for his own son and God’s son that forgave him.

On a cool brisk May morning in a blue water trough on a hill, he washed away his sins.

It took his breath too, but his biggest triumph was when he also helped his son of eleven years bebaptized on that very day also.

He knows he’s a work in progress, but with the love of his

family and son, his new church family, and acowboy like him

turned preacher man, he will become that new Christian he’s

working so hard to be.

By: Edna DePreist

Lord, you know that I am an old simple man and a man of few words.

Not much need to talk out in the pasture you know.

I do speak to you each day though with my simple prayer:

Thank you, God, for my food and this day,

For your Son who died for me and protects my way;

But, Lord, I need to linger awhile today.

My heart is heavy, and I heard the Cowboy preacher say,

“Lay my burdens at your feet, and you will give me peace.”

Well, you know my middle boy has strayed.

The missy and I did our best, but you know these young’uns have a mind of their own.

Well, maybe he just needs for that wild horse to buck him off!! I mean really hard!

But, Lord, I just pray that you will allow me to be there to pick him up again,

dust him off, and put back on to ride again - but this time for you.

One more burden, God: the youngest boy.

They tell me he might not make it.

Now this I don’t understand:

I mean, you know, old man supposed to go first.

It’s even hardest on the missy.

She almost died giving birth, and the bond is there.

Lord, I pray you spare Him; I know you don’t make no mistakes;

Just help me to trust you when I can’t understand,

but this is one burden you got to help me bear.

Well, I am rambling on. Know you’re surprised.

Don’t usually say this much, but there is one more thing.

You know this Cowboy preacher I mentioned.

Well, I been going to his meetings lately.

I like it there. Those folks are like me: Don’t say much but seem to love you.

Well, they meet outside: ain’t got no building, and it gets rather warm sometimes.

Now don’t get me wrong. That ain’t no mind to me. I’m used to the sun.

As long as a cowboy is in the shade, he’s cool.

But the missy and some of the women folk and babies,

well, they get a ‘mite hot sometimes, and winter’s comin’ on.

Well, if it ain’t askin’ too much: Could you keep a cool breeze going and find us a warm place for the winter time?

I know you care. Just help us to care and love you and others.

Well, Lord, I ain’t said this much in a long time.

Maybe I do need to talk to you more. Maybe that Preacher boy is right.

eel much better now, Lord. I believe my burdens been left at your feet,

I close with my daily simple prayer from an old simple cowboy:

Thank you. God,for my food this day,

For your Son who died for me and protects my way,

His new profession is one of greatness

The Lord has blessed him many ways

His youth was filled with hardship and triumphs

He’s a cowboy through and through

With the guidance of a mother and brother

And lots of special friends along the way

Is what has made him what he is today.

But one friend sticks out above all

A ruff and gruff and sometime hard man

A transplant from New Mexico, a cowboy all the way

He’s been down many roads

From brushy bottoms of East Texas

To the bright lights of the rodeo.

But the Lord’s got him down another road now

With the help of a loving wife and two boys.

He’s the kind of person we all want to be

He is an inspiration to all with his guidance and wisdom

A good hand with a rope and fine horseman to boot

And a good daddy and husband and most of all fine Christian

But best of all he’s a cowboy turned preacher man.

His new road may be his hardest of all to wrangle

For the Lord on a hill on a Sunday

But with the help of his ramrod in the sky at his lead

He will succeed the ole’ Cowboy Turned Preacher Man.

Written By: Aaron Davis 8/08