"Best Days"

Lookin’ through my horse’s ears,

The best of days, the best of years,

Something fine about that time,

As memories draw near.

So much labor, sweat and toil,

Rain and cold and blood and soil,

It’s what you’d do till we were through,

And then your rope recoil.

I can see in my mind’s eye,

Waiting horseback for daybreak sky,

We’d be where, exactly there,

To gather steers, ‘fore sun got high.

Ride until the day was done,

Last ones with the setting sun,

Worn-out men, they’d always grin,

If boss said, one more run.

Unloading horses, hear ‘em neigh,

Come off, boys, they’d cluck and say,

Saddles off, hay from the loft,

With oats their horses pay.

Gather round for biscuit, beans,

A slice of brisket, keep it lean,

Food top rate, fill your plate,

The best I’ve ever seen.

I cannot go back to those days,

But in my memory, stay always,

A-horseback there without a care,

And those old cowboy ways.

“So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God…” (Ecclesiastes 2:24, NLT)

Post-modern life is frenetic and complicated. People long for something simpler…They seem hungry for a lifestyle closer to the land, with basic morality and less politically correct nonsense. Underneath is a hunger for God Himself, and a simple faith unfettered by big business religion. I empathize. It’s what I experienced growing up a-horseback, when the good guys were good and the bad guys were bad and you could tell the difference. The public square was characterized by public morality. But all that has changed. How do we go back? Maybe we can’t completely. But a good place to start is by simply surrendering afresh and anew to Jesus Christ, and asking Him to lead our lives. He is the way and shows the way.

Lord, help us enjoy Your simple blessings and live our lives according to Your will, in Jesus’ name.

Art by R.S. Riddick, used by permission. Thanks, Mr. Riddick, and God bless you.