Keep the Sabbath Day

My dad comes from a western ranching family. Both sets of his grandparents owned and operated large
ranches in the southwest. He was raised riding horses and working cattle. I once asked my father what
he would do for a living if money was no object and he said that he would go back to being a cowboy.

Every year the there would be a roundup out on the ranch. All the boys would participate in gathering
the herd for the annual maintenance. Most of the cowboys were pretty stereotypically rough around
the edges and very “manly”. The roundup usually lasted several weeks. Each day started early and was
filled full of cows, horses, dust, and food. One Saturday my dad decided that he would stay out on the
ranch and work through the weekend while his father, my grandfather, headed back to town to go to
church the next day.

My father woke up that Sunday morning with an aching conscience. He knew that he should be in
church that day too, but all the rides back had left the day before. Fortunately my grandpa had a feeling
that he should go back out on Sunday morning. He did and they were both able to attend the Sunday
services. I’m thankful for these men setting a good example for me when it comes to Sunday worship.
We never miss a meeting.