Them That Be With Us

"More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." Alfred Lord Tennison

I pray a lot (maybe not as much as I should).

I often can't imagine how I can get done what I need to do. Just the 2 of us 'old people' for 6 months manage around 3600 head (that's cows and calves together) on 40,000 acres with very little help. We move herds often of 800-1000 animals, treat cows as big as 1800 lbs with no corrals, deal with 70 or so bulls from the 1st of June to the 1st of Oct. It is a daunting task.

It makes prayer almost a necessity. This probably sounds odd but when I pray for help I ask God for any old cowboys that wish they could do a little more of the work they loved and their good horses and if they have a good dog or two could they bring them too.

Where else can I go for help? We don't have the money to hire it, we call on kids (thanks Crystal), and trade help with friends and neighbors but people have their own lives and their own work and can't come as often as we need help. That is just the facts.

Cowboys pray. It's easy for them to communicate with the Creator when they're out there in the stillness of His creations. And I, personally, think that when they die, a lot of them continue their unrecognized service in the form of unseen angels that come as answers to my prayers.

I prayed for them today and they came. I didn't see them but I knew they were there. I've rode with them lots of times before. I know how it feels when they come.

It reminds me of the bible story in 2 Kings 6 where the bad guys are sick of losing the battles and finaly discover that Elisha, the prophet, has been telling on them and they sent

 ". . . thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
15. And when the servant of the man of God (Elisha) was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16.  And he answered and said, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17.  And Elisha prayed, and said Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Yup, them that be with us . . . I know those guys.