Quote from Forum Archives on December 14, 2002, 2:39 pm

Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

*** A Cowboy's Cristmas 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've got a Friend. So, here's ol' Christmas comin' on,
remindin' us again of Him whose comin' brought goodwill 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 old cows a-starvin', and it ain't no pretty 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 a-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!

amen.

 

**************************************************************

 

*** Mother's Footsteps ***

It was a busy day in our Costa Mesa, California, home. But then, with 6 children and one on the way, every day was a bit hectic. On this particular day, however, I was having trouble doing even routine chores--all because of one little boy. Len, who was three at the time, was on my heels no matter where I went. Whenever I stopped to do something and turned back around, I would trip over him. Several times, I patiently suggested fun activities to keep him occupied. "Wouldn't you like to play on the swing set?" I asked again.

 

But he simply smiled an innocent smile and said, "Oh, that's all right Mommy. I'd rather be in here with you." Then he continued to bounce happily along behind me.

 

After stepping on his toes for the fifth time, I began to lose my patience and insisted that he go outside and play with the other children. When I asked him why he was acting this way, he looked up at me with sweet green eyes and said, "Well, Mommy, in Sunday class my teacher told me to walk in Jesus' footsteps. But I can't see him, so I'm walking in yours."

 

I gathered Len in my arms and held him close. Tears of love and humility spilled over from the prayer that grew in my heart--a prayer of thanks for the simple, yet beautiful perspective of a three-year-old boy.

 

*********************************************************************

The Real Meaning Of Peace

 

"There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist
who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists
tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there
were only two he really liked, and he had to choose
between them. One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a
perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around
it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.
All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect
picture of peace.

 

The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged
and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

 

But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest - in perfect peace.

 

Which picture do you think won the prize? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?

 

"Because," explained the king, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."

 

Have a Blessed Day

Dave and Barbara

 

Necessary Legal Information

I do not mail idea-central  unsolicited. If you are receiving this newsletter from me it's because you have subscribed to this mailing list. If you receive this newsletter and are not a subscriber then someone, other than me, has forwarded it to you.

 

Normal Subscribe:	idea-central-subscribe@welovegod.org
Normal Unsubscribe:	idea-central-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
Web Subscribe:	idea-central-allow-subscribe@welovegod.org
Web Unsubscribe:	idea-central-allow-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
Email Group Owner:	idea-central-owner@associate.com