A Cowboy Christmas Prayer
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 that we tend
Can look up at the stars at night
and know we have 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 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 old cows a-starvin,
and it ain"t no happy sight:
Please Lord don"t leave no one
hungry, Lord 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 saying"s---
We speak of Merry Christmas, Lord---
I reckon You"ll agree
There ain"t no Merry Chistmas
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.
By S. Omar Barker
