In March, my cousin, Terry called me to let me know he was battling cancer again. He knew better than not to tell me! Twelve years ago he gave me a call and told me he had cancer in his throat and he began the battle to beat the C word. And he did! His doctors had never seen anyone go through all he went through and still go to work nearly every day.
Terry was made from some hearty stock and is a real cowboy. He was a member of the World Champion Roping Team in 1991. He worked hard and he worked long. When we were children we roamed all over Pap-Paw’s ranch in Oklahoma. There was so much to do in that place and our imaginations ran wild. Terry was my Roy Rogers and I was Dale Evans. There was one problem with this picture: this Dale Evans was afraid of horses. Well I wasn’t afraid of Pap-Paw’s horse, Buck. (That was the wrong name for this gentle old horse.) But I was afraid of the heights it would take to get up on him. I definitely was not the best Dale Evans. But we fought our bad guys anyway along with our other cousins.
Cowboys are born, not made. Their stories are true, even when they’re not.”– Baxter Black
When Terry called in March, he said he was experiencing kidney cancer again and he just wanted to get on my prayer list. He was sure he was going to be able to beat this again and he was added to my prayer list. On May 10, 2026 I received a call from his little sister, Patti. She said that Terry was tired of the battle and he made the decision to go on hospice. I called him that evening and heard his weak and weary voice. I asked him if he had received Jesus as his Savior. He told me “Oh, yes! I took care of that years ago.” May 11 we headed to Oklahoma to get to see Terry one more time. As I was driving I was asking the Lord to show me how to pray for Terry and I heard on the radio the song “Wide Open” by North Point Worship. The words carried my answer on how to pray for him and it gave me a glimpse of what was ahead for Terry. Here are the words I heard.
No height, no depth, no laugh, or final breath
Could ever separate us from Your love
No failure, no mistake, no loneliness, or pain
Could ever separate us from Your love
Could ever separate us from Your love
On the other side of everything I’m afraid of
You are standing with Your arms wide open, wide open
Even in my deepest doubts and wonder
You are standing with your arms wide open, wide open
My heart was at peace and we had a wonderful visit with Terry. We headed back to the farm the next day and Terry went home to be with his Savior just about the time we got home. I think he’s enjoying roping in heaven in a brand new body.
Where the Dutch Ovens Roam 