Home For Christmas

here are so many songs and stories reflecting the yearning to be home at Christmas and they usually are a wish or prayer from far away; "I'll be home for Christmas if only in my dreams."  I sure remember  whispering those old lyrics when I was stationed far away at Christmas-time.

When I saw this painting, I was given a new perspective on getting home for Christmas. It reminded me of a time I was trying to get to a high-school buddy’s home in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He'd served a full career as an officer in the USAF and was having a retirement party at Warren AFB. I  got as far as Rawlins on Interstate 80 when they shut down the road due to a blizzard, as they are all-too-well known to do in Wyoming. I hunkered down in my car to wait. For eighteen hours I ran the heater, slept uncomfortably and burned up fuel to stay warm. Finally, they opened the highway up but only westbound. I decided discretion was in order. Reluctantly I gave up, called him with an apology and headed home the way I had come. Weather is the boss up here in Wyoming and Montana during the winter.

Home for Christmas

Plannin’ to find a gift or two
I'd ridden to town for supplies
My young ‘uns Christmas yearnin'
Hopin’ I'd to bring ‘em a surprise

Bannack was thirty some miles
But it was a familiar trail
We went ‘bout once a month
To fetch some goods and our mail

Yesterday when I left our place
The weather wasn't bad a’tall
So I spent the night in town
Now, ridin’ back in a squall

I began to feel a kinship
With bundled up ol' Saint Nick
When on Christmas Eve he journeyed
Through weather clear or thick

On Christmas Eve with bundled gifts
He sure traveled to bring joy
To kids the whole world over
As I was for my girl and boy

Santa was drivin’ his Reindeer
I was on Star, my bay mare
Leading Champ our tired packhorse
I stopped and fetched up a prayer

“Lord, it's been snowin' all day
I've miles to go before I rest
If You’d back off the snow a mite
I'd dang-sure feel some blessed”

We crested the ridge where
In clear weather I could view
Our distant house and barn
I could only see snow that flew

We were ridin' south towards home
My shadow quickly confirmed
When the storm broke for an instant
Before stormin’ again returned

Now it was up to ol' Star
To instinctively know the way
My kids were Christmas dreamin’
"Get us home, Star," I pray

Ol’ Star moved out then
A slow but assured pace
I continued talkin’ to God
Stinging snow biting my face

"My Christmas list is short Lord
The only gift I want for me
Is health and closeness in our home
With joy all ‘round our tree"

When I opened my eyes from prayin’
Ol’ Star had come to a full stop
What did I see before my eyes?
The icicles hangin’ from our rooftop

Nearly too stiff to step down
My son runnin' out to help
Our pup dancin’ 'round barkin'
Glad to see me by his yelp

My son put up Star and Champ
Grained ‘em and rubbed ‘em down
He brought in the bundled supplies
That I’d fetched home from town

"Well I dang-sure got my gift Lord
You answered my prayer full strength
My family sure had a Christmas
You always are with me full-length"

by Rik Goodell
© 2024 All rights reserved

This Clark Kelley Price painting speaks to me of man's innate drive to protect, provide and serve his family.

To see more of this artist's work, visit his website:

https://clarkkelleyprice.com/