"Strait"

It was finally time to say good-bye,

To that buckskin horse of mine,

He’d been a good one through the years,

And some well know the kind.

Who partnered fine on trails we rode,

And watched the cattle, too,

Did everything that he was asked,

And knew just what to do.

A pretty horse with whitest blaze,

And dark line down his back,

Back and turn and side pass, too,

And knew the way to track.

And gentle as the day is long,

A horse that you could trust,

And so when he got sick again,

I worked and prayed and fussed.

But nothing that I did it seems,

Could ever get him right,

Decided to go to the vet,

And end it out of sight.

But next day he was laying down,

I knew the time had come,

So I did it ‘cause I thought I should,

With a bullet from my gun.

We buried him at Horseshoe Bend,

Right here on this place,

And when I look across that way,

I sometimes see his face.

Strait he haunts my dreams sometime,

We’re riding tall and high,

Then I wake up and he’s not here,

I’m left to wonder why.

Can’t say how much he meant to me,

How hard to see him go,

I’ll never do this thing again,

And that’s something I know.

I’ve ridden horses all my life,

Have good ones now to ride,

But a better one I doubt I’ll know,

Than Strait when in his stride.

The Good Lord knows what heaven’s like,

The Book says horses there,

Will be a part of His return,

He’s coming soon, I swear.

And maybe I’ll see Strait again,

God knows if that will be,

And if I do, I’ll praise the Lord,

‘Cause he was the best to me.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4, NLT)

Life has its sadness and sorrows. But not always…Why? Because the day will come when Jesus will wipe away every tear and all that makes us sad will end. Eternal life with Jesus gives us assurance that these things are true, and creates expectation when Jesus, on a great white horse, returns and makes it happen. Imagine it, if you can, because it’s coming, because He is.

Lord, help us receive comfort for life’s sorrows from You, in Jesus’ name.

Personal photo of Strait.