My husband took me to the Rodeo this weekend. I love the Rodeo. I always have. The horses are beautiful, the pace is fast, and the sport is challenging. Not everyone can rope a get-away steer or jump off their running horse, grab that steer by the horns, and wrestle it to the ground. Of course, not everyone wants to either.
The atmosphere of the Rodeo is similar to that of the fair. I love the fair also. There are always so many things to see at the fair. I have found that most fairs also have a Rodeo. Perhaps that is why I love the fair so much.
As I was sitting on the bleachers this weekend, the first activity was “Mutton Bustin’.” I enjoy mutton bustin’ because the children riding the sheep are so adorable. One little guy held onto his run-away sheep for the entire 4 seconds, and when he jumped off, he threw his hat up into the air, knelt with his hat over his heart, and bowed his head. The crowd erupted.
The family beside me had a son riding in the Mutton Bustin’ competition. He was a most handsome little fella, with big blue eyes, blond curly hair, and a great big smile. When his competition was completed, he returned to the bleachers to sit with his family. He sat right beside me. He was charming, and as the night continued, he would smile and scoot closer to me. Eventually, he laid his head on my arm and, with those gorgeous blue eyes, squinted them closed with the sweetest smile ever. Oh wow, my heart just melted. Sitting in the sweltering southern humidity, that little boy brought me straight to tears at the Linden TX Rodeo. Bombs could have been bursting around me, and it would not have mattered. All that concerned me at that moment was the beauty of that profound moment when a little boy reached out to me and expressed love and kindness.
Those are the most beautiful moments in life. They are the moments one remembers until the day they die, and I believe beyond. It is a precise moment where purity, innocence, trust, honesty, and love are instantly displayed. It is the miracle of children.
This coming Sunday will be Father’s Day, a day when we celebrate our dad. I was always a “Daddy’s Girl.” I loved my dad more than anything in the world. My heart was always filled with utter trust, sincerity, and love for him.
For many, Sunday will be a day of wonder, but for others, it may be a day of emptiness. If your dad is living, please take this opportunity to spend special time with him. Express your love, deep devotion, and appreciation to him. If he is deceased, my condolences go out to you, and if you haven’t yet, this Sunday would be an excellent time to develop a tradition based on your dad’s life. Traditions work like medicine to bridge the gap and grief of loss.
GRIEF BRIEF 42
TRADITIONS
Traditions are a wonderful tool for grief recovery.
Observing traditions that were once enjoyed with the deceased helps us accept that they are gone from us physically, yet with us still through the activities and love we shared together.
Such activities, now traditions, will aid your family by anchoring them securely to their heritage.
Observing traditions stabilizes a family through loss, expansion, and changing environments. (Mourning Lights, 2022)
I have often experienced loving moments with my father. His bravery sustains me when fear overcomes me, his love anchors me when dismay closes in, and his wisdom and guidance continue to assist me in life and business decisions. I hope you have experienced incredible moments with your dad too.