We thought about and were well on the way to drafting a much different column for this Christmas – A Very Brandon Christmas seemed apropos to this season of disharmony and
discontent. But in looking through past Christmas columns we ran across one of our columns from 2014, entitled Have A Phil Crane Christmas, and we were brought back to the recognition that no Christian should be bitter on Christmas, because if there is one day of the year that is to be dedicated to hope it is Christmas and the anniversary of the birth of Our Savior.
And what brought us back to that fundamental Christian principle, that the promise of Christ’s birth is the redemption of all mankind, was a not a Bible verse, although if there was ever a time to read the Bible it is now, but a footnote in the article and a link to Jimmy Dean’s version of the old S. Omar Barker poem "A Cowboy’s Christmas Prayer."
I ain’t much good at prayin’, and You may not know me, Lord —
For 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 the 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’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 a 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 the 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 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 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 ask You, Lord: just help us what You can
To save some seeds of freedom for the future Sons of Man!
This Christmas, when things look dark and it is easy to fall into bitterness and despair, when Patriots and Christians are persecuted, it is up to us to save the seeds of freedom and to go forward unafraid because we have God’s promise of Redemption made real by the birth of Jesus Christ.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Christmas 2021
Jimmy Dean
S. Omar Barker