He told me his name was Cowboy, but he looked like anything but.
I first noticed him as I got out of my truck and was walking into Tractor Supply to buy some feed for my horses a couple of months ago. He had long dreadlocks, baggy pants and wore sneakers. He was crouching down by the back tire of a car with a companion and, as I glanced at them, it appeared they might have been trying to fix a flat.
I didn’t acknowledge them, nor they me, as I walked past and entered the store. I grabbed a trolley and went to the equine section to load eight, fifty pound bags of feed. I stacked them on the cart and headed to the check out counter to pay and then wheeled the trolley out the door. I noticed the two guys still working on the tire as I proceeded to my truck. I lowered the tail gate and reached down to grab a bag of feed and tossed it into the bed.
When I turned he startled me
When I turned to get another bag I was startled to see the guy with dreads standing right beside my trolley. He smiled and said, “Can I help you with this?” as he reached down to pick up a bag of feed.
I said, “Naw, I’ve got it. You don’t have to do that.”
He smiled again and said, “Please let me. I like to help people with things like this.” Then, he placed the bag in my truck as I grabbed another.
It took us just a few seconds to load them all and after we finished I said, “That was very kind of you. I really appreciate it.”
He responded, “Don’t mention it. I just really like to help folks, and when I saw you with those feed bags I thought to myself that you could probably use a hand.”
I reached out to shake his hand and asked, “What’s your name?”
He surprised me by saying, “They call me Cowboy.”
His name didn't go with his look
Like I said, he didn’t look like a stereotypical cowboy. He wore no hat, no jeans, no boots or belt with a big buckle. As I observed him more closely, I noticed a gold chain around his neck and two earrings in the shape of crosses were hanging from his earlobes mingling with his dreads.
I said, “I notice those crosses that you’re wearing. Does that mean anything to you?”
He nodded and said, “Yes, I couldn’t make it without the Lord.”
I responded, “So, you are a follower of Jesus, then?” He smiled that big smile again and affirmed that he indeed was.
At then he quipped, “Well, I hope you have a great day,” and turned to go back to work on his tire.
He didn’t ask me for anything - no help with his tire, not a ride to anywhere, and no money -which I was kind of expecting. He simply had stopped what he was doing when he saw me, got up from his task and came over to give me a hand loading my feed bags. He went out of his way to help a stranger not expecting anything in return.
As I got in my truck and drove off I reflected on what just happened and it made a deep impression on me. My actions that day were mostly opposite to Cowboy’s. I had noticed him and his friend working on their tire but I didn’t even acknowledge them as I walked by. I certainly didn’t stop to ask them if I could help. I just went about my own tunnel-visioned task without even thinking about how I might show the love and concern of Jesus in a simple act of human kindness.
He caused me to take a good look at myself
That young man’s kindness expressed to me that day made me take a good look at myself. I asked the Lord to forgive me for being so self-focused. I also asked him to make me more aware of others around me and to be more intentional about going out of my way to lend a helping hand. I believe the Lord sent Cowboy to me that day, not only to help, but as an example to show me how I could be a better neighbor.
That day, like many others, I regretted the many opportunities I'd missed to do good to others.
Several years ago country singer Toby Keith came out with a number entitled, "I Should've Been a Cowboy," in which he sang,
"I should've been a cowboy
I should've learned to rope and ride..."
That day at Tractor Supply I realized I should've been like a Cowboy I met with dreads.
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