Cowboys are a special breed of people. They are not just men and women who work with cattle, they are also the people who work hard to make sure that everything is done right, in a timely and efficient manner. They have a strong sense of family and community, because they know that no matter what happens, they will always have someone there to support them.
The amazing thing about cowboys is that they are able to see things from a different perspective than most people do. They understand the importance of hard work, but also know how important it is to have fun while doing it! This can be seen in the way cowboys pray for their loved ones during funerals.
Cowboy funerals are one of the most important events in any cowboy’s life. It gives them an opportunity to reflect on their lives and remember all of the memories that they shared with those closest to them. A cowboy funeral also allows friends and family members time together before saying goodbye forever.
So next time someone close to you passes away, remember these five tips when praying for them at their funeral:
A cowboy’s prayer for funeral is a poem written by a famous American poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, in 1864. This poem is about the death of a cowboy who was killed in the Civil War and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
The first two lines of the poem are: “God of the sky, God of the earth, God who gave us birth.” In these two lines, he prays to God because he wants to express his gratitude for all the good things that happen in his life. Then he says that there is something wrong with his life and asks God to help him solve this problem. He says that he needs guidance from God because he feels confused about what he should do next. Then he tells God that if he can’t find any guidance from him then at least send him a sign so that it will show him what path should be taken next. At last, he ends his prayer with another line: “And show me where my duty lies.”
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Cowboys prayer for funeral
In times of grief and loss, it is essential to turn to prayer for comfort and healing. Cowboys, known for their resilience and strength, often have their own prayers that they turn to during funerals and times of mourning. These prayers are filled with reverence, hope, and a deep sense of faith. Here are six heartfelt cowboy prayers that can bring solace to those grieving the loss of a loved one:
Prayer 1:
Dear Lord, we gather here today to say farewell to our cowboy brother/sister. We pray that you wrap your comforting arms around those who are mourning and give them strength to endure this difficult time. May our friend find eternal rest in your loving embrace. Amen.
Prayer 2:
Heavenly Father, as we lay our cowboy brother/sister to rest, we find peace in knowing that they are now in your eternal care. May their spirit continue to watch over us and guide us through our grief. Grant us the courage to carry on their legacy of strength and kindness. Amen.
Prayer 3:
Lord, we trust in your divine plan, even when we cannot understand why we must say goodbye to our cowboy friend. Give us the grace to accept your will and find comfort in the memories we shared. May our friend find everlasting peace in your heavenly kingdom. Amen.
Prayer 4:
God of all creation, we thank you for the gift of our cowboy brother/sister and the time we had together. Though we may no longer walk this earth side by side, we carry their spirit in our hearts forever. May their legacy of courage and resilience inspire us to live each day with purpose and gratitude. Amen.
Prayer 5:
Heavenly Father, we entrust our cowboy brother/sister to your infinite mercy and love. Comfort those who mourn and guide us through this valley of darkness. May we find solace in the promise of eternal life and the hope of reunion in your heavenly kingdom. Amen.
Prayer 6:
Lord, in your word we find strength and solace. As we bid farewell to our cowboy friend, we cling to the promise of Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” May this assurance of your presence bring peace to our hearts and courage to our souls. Amen.
During the difficult time of mourning a cowboy’s passing, these prayers offer a source of comfort, hope, and healing. As friends and family gather to say their final farewells, these heartfelt words can provide a sense of peace and closure in the midst of sorrow. May these cowboy prayers serve as a beacon of light in the darkness of grief, reminding us of the eternal love and mercy of God.
Even though the number of people living in rural America may be dwindling, the western lifestyle continues to be popular. You can purchase cowboy-themed “happy birthday” cards and western-themed cards that offer “get well” wishes. If someone recently died, you can find funeral program covers showing the image of wheat, and thank you notes that have horseshoes on the cover.
And there are modern cowboy poets who still write about life in the country. Here are some poems that were written by somewhat-modern writers. Some celebrate country living, and some are specifically about the death of someone who made their living off of the land.
1. “Let Evening Come” by Jane Kenyon
This poem describes all the things that continue, even after a loved one dies. From the late afternoon sunlight shining through the barn to the “hoe abandoned in long grass.”
While these images and things may be painful reminders to the one you lost, the final stanza offers comfort. “Let it come, as it will, and don’t be afraid. God does not leave us comfortless, so let evening come.”
2. “Never More Will the Wind” by Hilda Doolittle
When you think of your loved one, do you envision him working outside, in good weather and in bad? This melancholy poem may remind you of him. It begins, “Never more will the wind cherish you again, never more will the rain.”
3. “Question” by May Swenson
While this poem certainly has a different tone from the others on the list, it may be appropriate for your loved one’s funeral. The speaker in the poem asks difficult questions about what will happen when his soul leaves his body.
The reason it appears on this list is because of the western imagery that is used. The first stanza reads, “Body my house, my horse, my hound, what will I do when you are all fallen? Where will I sleep? How will I ride? What will I hunt?”
4. “Rider’s Song” by Federico Garcia Lorca
This poem is written from the perspective of a cowboy on a long journey. The rider knows that he will never arrive at Cordoba, his final destination, because he knows he is dying.
5. “Close the Gate (For Dad)” by Nancy Kraayenhof
Anyone who has lived in the country understands the importance of closing the gate to keep the cattle and horses in the pasture. This poem celebrates that lifestyle and includes this line, “You raised a fine family, worked the land well and always followed the Son, Hang up your shovel inside of the barn; your work here on earth is done.”
6. “The Farmer” by Amelia Barr
This rhyming poem extols the virtues of those who feed everyone on earth. It includes the couplet, “The farmer’s trade is one of worth; He’s partner with the sky and earth.”
7. “The Farmer” by Sue Ikerd
Many farmers find themselves in the profession because they are children and grandchildren of farmers. If your loved one was such a person, this poem might speak to you.
8. “A Cowboy’s Prayer” by Charles Badger Clark Jr.
In this poem, a cowboy offers a prayer to the Lord. He admits that “I know that others find You in the light that’s sifted down through tinted window panes, And yet I seem to feel You near tonight
In this dim, quiet starlight on the plains.”
9. “A Cowboy’s Last Request” by Terry Ike Clanton
The speaker in this poem is a deceased cowboy who has ridden off into the sunset. He calls himself a “proud and thankful cowboy who has just passed away.”
Traditional or Older Poems for a Cowboy’s Funeral
Here are some more traditional poems to use at the funeral of a cowboy, farmer, or rancher. You may consider reading them during a funeral service or sharing them on social media.
10. “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden
This famous poem describes a child’s regret for not appreciating his hard-working father. He later remembers how his father got up every day of the week to start a fire in the home to heat it before anyone else awoke. He regrets not thanking his father for taking care of small things to make his life more comfortable.
11. “Psalm 23” from The Bible
It’s not just people who live in the country who find comfort in hearing the words of the 23rd Psalm. But the peaceful place in this Psalm is described as a “green pasture” by “still water,” so it would certainly appeal to someone who lived off the land.
12. The Pasture” by Robert Frost
Even though Robert Frost was certainly not a cowboy, he does incorporate nature into a lot of his poems. In particular, this poem would be extremely appropriate for the funeral of a person who raised cattle. This short poem ends, “I’m going out to fetch the little calf, that’s standing by the mother. It’s so young, it totters when she licks it with her tongue. I sha’n’t be gone long.—You come too.”
13. “So God Made a Farmer” by Paul Harvey
You may remember this poem from a Super Bowl ad several years ago. Even though it looks more like an essay, this piece reads like a poem. It was written by a radio commentator named Paul Harvey, and it describes the characteristics of these special people who feed the world.
14. “I’m Just a Farmer, Plain and Simple” by Bobby Collier
This plain and simple poem describes the hard life of living off the land. It includes the line, “I know not of riches, But rather, of patches on my britches. I know of drought and rain, Of pleasure and pain.”
15. “I Know You’ll Miss This Man” by Baxter Black
Baxter Black has worked as a cowboy, large-animal veterinarian, a radio and television commentator, and a poet. In this poem, he describes how the Lord needed a cowboy, and even though he knew that the cowboy would be missed on earth, he took the man to Heaven.
16. “When I Leave This Life” by Elizabeth Ebert
Elizabeth Ebert spent her life in South Dakota, where she raised cattle and wrote poetry. She wrote her funeral instructions in this poem. Her final stanza reads, “And later, whenever the time seems right, On a sunny day from a greening hill, Scatter my ashes into the wind. Then I shall be part of the prairie still.” We hope her family followed her end-of-life instructions to a T.
17. “Reincarnation” by Wallace McRae
Are you looking for a funny, cowboy poem to use at a funeral? You may get a few laughs from “Reincarnation” by Wallace McRae.
18. “Out Where the West Begins” by Arthur Chapman
This poem was first published in a collection written by Arthur Chapman in 1917. It begins, “Out where the handclasp’s a little stronger, Out where the smile dwells a little longer, That’s where the West begins.”
Choosing the Right Words
There are certainly times in life when it is essential that you choose the right words. You need to say the right things when you propose to your love. You need to correct your darling grandson carefully when he uses a grandmother name that you despise. And you need to take time to choose your words when you write someone’s eulogy.
Hopefully, this list of cowboy poems will help you choose the right words for your loved one’s funeral. But if you are trying to find a poem that was meaningful to your family member, you may want to become an amateur sleuth. Look through his or her books for well-worn pages. Search the house for poems that were taped up on mirrors decades earlier. Look for newspaper clippings or yellowed pages that are stuck inside the family Bible.
You have one chance to choose the right word’s for your loved one’s funeral, so do what you can to make those words count.