A Cowboy’s Christmas Prayer

No song. No politics. No economics. After a month in the great plains of Oklahoma and Kansas, I offer this prayer written in 1954 by S. Omar Barker. I can’t say it any better:

I ain’t much good at prayin’, and You may not know me, Lord.
I ain’t much seen in churches, where they preach The 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 that we tend.
Can look up in the stars at night and know we’ve got a friend.

So, here’s ol’ Christmas comin’ on, remindin’ us again,
Of Him whose comin’ 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 sorta 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 do my doggone best to help you find ‘em chuck to eat.

I’m just a sinful cowpoke, Lord - ain’t got no business prayin’.
But I still hope You’ll catch 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 more thing I’ll ask you Lord: just help us what you can.
To save some seeds of freedom for the future sons of man.

Merry Christmas.

Congressman John Campbell