RIDING DRAG / POLITICALLY CORRECT

April 23, 2019
 

I’ve seen a lot of tee-shirts lately,

That say, “Get a Cowboy Attitude”,

But the fellows who were wearing them,

Appeared to be plain rude.

They think that being a Cowboy,

Is a swagger in your walk,

And a dip in your lip,

And a drawl when you talk.

To them it’s a high-dollar horse,

And a trailer with sleeper and tack,

And a sixty thousand dollar pick-up,

With vanity plates on the back.

They think a hundred dollar shirt,

And a Stetson with a fancy band,

Is all it takes to make,

The measure of a man.

But being a Cowboy,

Ain’t necessarily what you ride,

It’s what you believe,

It’s who you are inside.

It’s looking past the problems,

To further down the road,

It’s standing up for others,

And living by The Code.

It’s giving more than your share,

It’ doing what is right,

It’s knowing how to appreciate things,

By taste, or feel or sight.

It’s knowing that it’s Not Necessary,

To be Politically Correct,

That either you do, or you don’t,

Deserve your ounce of respect.

It’s knowing the definition of Freedom,

The Responsibility that is brings,

It’s Heart and Soul and Strength and Grit,

And even more that just those things…

It’s wearing what is practical,

And even if you’re money poor,

It you really are a Cowboy,

You’re rich in something more.

Because being a Cowboy,

Isn’t something that you learn,

It’s putting your shoulder to it,

It’s the one thing that you EARN.

So, when you see a fellow,

Wearing his “cowboy attitude”,

You can know that he’s a ‘wanna-be’,

Or maybe just a dude.

 

As for the Real Cowboy?

Well, you’ll know him by the look in his eyes,

And he’ll be the one wearing plain clothes,

Because he don’t have to advertise.

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*For more information on Debra Coppinger Hill go to the poetry section at AlwaysCowboy.com

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RIDING DRAG with DEBRA COPPINGER HILL is featured each week at ALWAYS COWBOY where Debra is a Resident Western Poet. Join her and her Cowboy Friends for Cowboy Poetry, News & Events. http://alwayscowboy.net/debra_coppinger_hill_poetry.html

GIFTS

Ranching and farming present the participants with great gifts.  We receive knowledge because every day is a learning experience. Treating our animals prepares us in many ways for dealing with childhood illness and accident by teaching us to remain calm so the patient (two or four legged) will remain calm. We receive the gift of a sense of humor and the ability to deal with any situation in an upbeat manner. We have been given the ability to survive regardless of the circumstances and the gift of forgiveness, both by us and towards us. Livestock babies are our gift each spring, assuring us that life goes on no matter what. The list is endless.

The greatest gifts I ever received were my family and several life-long friends. God put them in my life and blessed me with ranching and writing. I thank Him every day for all he has given me. But none of it is as important as His one gift that He gave to all mankind…the life of His Son for our sins. The list for why this is important is endless too. We will celebrate this week the glory of Christ rising from the dead.  He is there for each person who will simply believe and follow.

I came back and edited this column after sending it to one publication that sent it back and asked that I write something a little less “controversial”.  I guess I could do that, but I don’t want to. Instead I will ask them to rerun a column of their choice at no charge and when their contract is up at the end of April, I will not renew it. I will not compromise my personal belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of man for a check and the sake of political correctness. I would rather be wrong in the eyes of an editor than in the eyes of my Savior.

I would like to mention one more thing. I have never met a Rancher or Farmer who did not have a deep abiding Faith in God. And I believe with my whole heart that stewards of land and livestock are also one of those gifts God gives the world. Spring will come and someone somewhere will shout that the wheat is up or that there is a new baby on the ground and I know who they will thank. I know who I will be thanking. He is Risen!

 

*For more information on Debra Coppinger Hill go to the poetry section at AlwaysCowboy.com

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RIDING DRAG with DEBRA COPPINGER HILL is featured each week at ALWAYS COWBOY where Debra is a Resident Western Poet. Join her and her Cowboy Friends for Cowboy Poetry, News & Events. http://alwayscowboy.net/debra_coppinger_hill_poetry.html