The Showdown

It was January in Abeline

and I was a looking for a fight

I was a gunfighter then

young, mean, ugly and full of spite.

"Anybody bold enuff to come out here?"

I yelled in the middle of the street

my right hand a straddling my peacemaker

my breath smelling homemade whiskey sweet.

For the longest time I stood there in silence

no man a daring to make a move

when out from the church come a little ole lady

dressed from head to toe in baby blue.

I said, "Ole lady get back inside that church

you aint capable of being my rival."

She said, "Guns have I none

but I'll fight you to death with this here bible."

"Bible!" I laughed.

"Are you telling me that's all you got?

well Missy, I'm ready for a showdown

throw it in the air and I'll give it a shot!"

That frail little lady just smiled a big ole smile

then she opened that little black book

and for thirty minutes she stood in the street and read to me

and brother that's all it took.

She told me of the love of Jesus

and how He died for me on a cross

she said He could wipe away all my sins

and that I was prideful and I was lost.

Well I cried and fell to the ground

and asked Jesus for a brand new heart

and in an instant my gunslinging days was over

and God showed me His grace and gave me a new start.

Ten years have past and I'm still thankful

for the woman that fought me with staff and rod

Lord bless her for looking past the drunken outlaw

and seeing instead a child of God.