A Cowboy's Christmas Prayer

The cowboys I know are simple folk, and for the most part, God-fearing. Also for the most part, you won't find them ranting on about how if you just do your cinches just right and wear your hat a certain way, the Good Lord will smile down on you and bless your britches off.

No, sir. Their faith is earthy. Only a few simple things are asked of us. Take care of kinfolk, even the nasty ones. Be kind to critters and tend to them in the best way possible. Treasure children. Be humble. Be respectful. 

Be grateful for every mouthful of grub, even if it's just coffee and beans. Food is food, and whatever it is, it's all from the hand of the Good Lord.

They are praying people. But they don't waste their breath on frivolous prayers that might take God away from more important matters. They pray before rodeos, for no injuries and honesty. They pray before eating. And when you go to Cowboy Church, it's just fine to wear your work-worn boots and dusty jeans. Be yourself. It's the way the Good Lord meant it to be. 

There is a classic cowboy prayer I'd like to share. Each year, we get at least one Christmas card bearing these timeless words. It best tells the heart of a true cowboy.

A COWBOY'S CHRISTMAS PRAYER
By S. Omar Barker (1894-1985)

I ain't much good at prayin', and You may not know me, Lord-
I ain't much seen in churches where they preach Thy Holy Word,
But you may have observed me out here on the lonely plains,
A-lookin' after cattle, feelin' thankful when it rains,
Admirin' Thy great handiwork, the miracle of grass,
Aware of Thy kind spirit in the way it comes to pass
That hired men on horseback and the livestock we tend
Can look up at the stars at night and know we've got a friend.

So here's ol' Christmas comin' on, remindin' us again
Of Him whose coming brought good will into the hearts of men.
A cowboy ain't no preacher, Lord, but if You'll hear my prayer,
I'll ask as good as we have got for all men everywhere.
Don't let no hearts be bitter, Lord.
Don't let no child be cold.
Make easy beds for them that's sick and them that's weak and old.
Let kindness bless the trail we ride, no matter what we're after,
And sorter keep us on Your side, in tears as well as laughter.

I've seen ol' cows a-starvin, and it ain't no happy sight:
Please don't leave no one hungry, Lord, on thy good Christmas night-
No man, no child, no woman, and no critter on four feet-
I'll aim to do my best to help You find 'em chuck to eat.

I'm just a sinful cowpoke, Lord-ain't got no business prayin'-
But still I hope You'll ketch a word or two of what I'm sayin':
We speak of Merry Christmas, Lord-I reckon you'll agree
There ain't no Merry Christmas for nobody that ain't free.
So one thing more I'll ask You, Lord: Just help us what you can
To save some seeds of freedom for the future sons of man. 

May your neighbours respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you and
Heaven accept you. - Unknown

Merry Christmas -- from the Ranch 

The Ranch in Winter

Welcome to the Ranch!

Merriest of Greetings to all my readers. Again, it's been a long spell since my last post. It's been busy, as usual.

Earlier this fall, we brought in the three thousand cows. It was time to be preg-checked, vaccinated, dewormed, and put on winter feed. The calves were shipped out.

Bringing in the cows.

For every day but one, the temperatures while gathering cattle plunged between -20 to -30 C. Blizzard conditions that frostbit the cowboys' faces and gave them icicles on their moustaches. Then it was cold working in the unheated barn processing the cows. Anything we do in the summertime is a hundred times more difficult in the winter. It takes a good fifteen minutes to get dressed to go outside, and by then you're all sweated up. Machinery is ornery. So are cattle. And people.

“Winter is not a season, it's an occupation.” 
― Sinclair Lewis

Lunchtimes gave us a brief opportunity to warm up with cocoa and a sandwich and a Tim Hortons donut, but then it was back to work. I discovered "Hot Hands" hand warmers, but I think I need a onesie made entirely of them!

Preg-checking is often done by ultrasound these days, although if a cow is proving difficult to evaluate, it's back to the old fashioned way: "Arming It." Donning a plastic "evening glove," the vet does a manual check. It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it. Yesterday, as we processed pregnant cow after pregnant cow, the vet expressed a wish for an "open" -- a non-pregnant bovine -- because her hand was getting cold!

Thankfully, it's all done now. All the animals are in close now and on feed.

We have snow, snow, and more snow. It's still cold.

Snow Removal - Ranch Style

Despite the frigid weather and deep snow, we are warm in spirit and heart. Our families are healthy, though not near enough to enjoy near often enough, and we have much to be thankful for, including Facebook and phone plans that offer free long distance to loved ones.

The view from the back door.

With most of the fall work done now that I have a part in, I should be adding a flurry of posts within the next few weeks. Until then, keep warm and joyful.

Winter is the time for comfort, for warm food and warmth,

for a touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:

it is the time for home. ~ Edith Sitwell