I attended two funerals this week. I would have attended three if one had not been in Utah. Three Good Men. It has me contemplating things, life, health. How we live our lives and what really matters.
I went to an old cowboys funeral today
He was tough as nails his old buddies did say
But he loved his wife fiercely,
children, grand children too
He feared God, served his country, fought all the way through
It made me think of Grandpa
I felt right at home
In the midst of farmers, hard working sowing,
They know a broncos hot breath
Cowboy boots, hats, and Wranglers
The outfit they wear doesn’t determine the fit,
Of a man whose life was lived with true grit.
It’s the heart of those men that is soft and giving
The love of their family makes this life worth living
And then I wondered where all the cowboys had gone?
Where are the men tough as nails and strong
The ones just like Grandpa who worked all the day
Then came home at night ready to play
He’d wrestle us, whisker burn us, giddy up on his knee
Is the generation gone? And…what about my son?
I thought on the pew as the funeral had begun
He has cowboys legacy not from just one family but two
Is there cowboy still in there to work and to play
Or are our boys drowning in school everyday
In this technological age how does a man do it?
With a cowboy heart
Is that why some numb it?
With videogames, cell phones, drugs, and vaping
Maybe some things need changing
Let the boys outside
Let them ride horses or quads
Let them explore, work hard, and race their cars
Let them blow up stuff and go to the lake
Let them light off those fireworks that came home by mistake
For how can a boy with a cowboy heart focus all day when school starts?
These were the things running through my brain
At my friends, Dads funeral I went to today
But that is not all, what about the women?
The cowboys protection and safe haven
What about the daughters and granddaughters with a cowboy heart?
Tough as nails, true grit, soft and sweet and sometimes swearing
I thought of the women in my life…no troubles sparing
Our cowboy heart shines its way through
When faced with sore trials as many of us do
We face the challenges with grit everyday
Grandmothers, Mothers, Sisters and Friends
I watch you fight the good fight with sophistication and grace
So when your kids are rough housing and you feel like you live in a zoo
Or life’s troubles are washing over you
When you watch your friend work three double shifts in a row
Or your Dad’s brother takes his very last breath
When you know your in the ring of fire
Your friends Dad lost his life to cancer
Or when a friend just can’t fight anymore
Loses the battle with mental and emotional health
When the money is tight and your not sure how you’ll get through it
Or you’ve been single for so long you just think…oh Hell screw it
Your kid gets suspended
If there’s sickness and your a tired caregiver
The problems are many BUT
Just remember.
Where you came from
you got this,
With true cowboy grit,
Pull on those boots
because your
cowboy tough