He Makes Me Brave

A week ago this past Sunday, one of the sweet jr high girls from our church mentioned to (a) that there was going to be a rodeo in the little town where she lives on Friday night.  Now if there is one thing that gets (a) excited it is the rodeo.  Allllll week he kept telling me he was going to go to the rodeo on Friday with his friend (K).  Once that has been mentioned to him, there isn’t any getting it off his mind either! So while (A) already had a commitment Friday evening, I began planning a night out at the rodeo for the boys and I. 

The night before, as I was looking up the directions to the arena and times for the rodeo, I discovered there was also going to be a Mutton Bustin’ (sheep riding) competition for kids under 75 lbs.  I started reading about it and discovered it was something that kids could sign up for the night of the event- registration wasn’t due early- and it only cost $5 to enter.  I had a feeling it might be something (a) would be interested in, but I wanted it to be his decision.  When he woke up on Friday morning, I mentioned I had some YouTube videos I wanted him to watch, and I showed him some clips of mutton bustin’ competitions at other fairs and rodeos.  Within just a few minutes he announced, “That’s awesome! Mommy I want to ride a sheep!” I then told him it was going to be a part of the rodeo that evening, and that if he wanted to, we would let him compete.  We spent quite a while discussing that he would have to be on the sheep all by himself, I couldn’t go with him, the sheep would be fast, he would fall off, all the things I thought he really needed to be aware of- but he was confident and SUPER excited… he was going to ride a sheep!  He spent the better part of the morning riding around our living room on his inflatable “buckin’ bull” telling us he was practicing riding a sheep, and he then took a nap without argument “to make sure he had plenty of energy” for the evening’s event. 

We arrived plenty early to make sure we were there in time to register, they were only taking the first 30 kids who signed up.  He was BEYOND excited to get a back number with his own name on it.  He loves to wear rodeo back numbers that my brother in law gives him after his competitions, but this time it had his OWN name on it and he was so proud.  I noticed as we signed up that most of the other children competing were 6 or 7 years old.  They were twice his age and almost twice his size, but he didn’t seem to notice.  It was an hour before the rodeo began, and (a) continually asked me when it would be his turn, he could hardly contain his excitement.  Finally, about two minutes before 7:00, they called for all competitors in the mutton bustin’ to report to the buckin’ chute area. 

He proudly handed me his cowboy hat as we walked that way, he was already aware of the fact he would have to trade it in for a helmet.  As we got down to the line up area, I watched his eyes get bigger and bigger.  We walked past the bull riders who were getting ready- they were loud and rough as they were putting resin on their boots, strapping on their spurs, and bracing up their arms.  As he got in line in number order, he was within feet of the bulls who where snorting and pushing each other and banging the gates of their pens.  I could see in (a)’s body language that he was getting nervous.  I was fully prepared for him to back out at any moment- after all he is 3 and I was not going to make him do this if he didn’t want to.  He kept holding my hand standing in line as the competition started.  He was going to be number 13 out of the gate.  The first time I heard him say “Mommy!” I held my breath, I was sure this was going to be the moment his mind changed, but instead his question was when he would get his helmet.  I assured him it would be just a minute.  A few seconds later, “Mommy!” Again, I thought NOW he was going to back out, but again he was asking about the helmet- there was a certain one he really wanted.  When it was his turn for the helmet and protective vest, I helped him get situated, and then with 4 riders ahead of him, it was time I had to let go of his hand and he had to go the rest of the way without me. 

As I stepped on into the side of the ring to get my camera ready to video, I still was fully prepared for him to back out.  My heart was racing when I realized he was next- not because I feared for his safety, but because I really had no idea if he was really going to go through with it.  Sure enough… the man helping picked him up and set him down into the bull chute on the back of his sheep.  My mommy heart did a pitter patter and I swallowed hard as the announcer called his name and age over the loud speaker… it was the first time his named had ever been announced in public over any kind of PA system.  And then… we waited.  At first there was a problem with his helmet that they had to fix (he has an unusually large, oblong head for a 3 year old), but once I saw them strap it back on him we waited a few more seconds.  I could tell they were having to boost his confidence a little bit.  At that point I was SURE they were just going to lift him back out.  The announcer asked the crowd to clap for him to show their support and people began to cheer.  In just a second the chute opened and out he came!  He had a little assistance from one of the men, and the ride only lasted about 2 seconds, but HE DID IT.  I thought my heart was going to burst with pride for his bravery.  There weren’t even any tears in his eyes.

I waved and yelled to him from the side of the ring and he came over to me to head back to our seats.  Immediately I told him what a great job he had done and how incredibly proud of him I was.  He looked up at me with a look of sadness in his big, blue eyes and said to me “But Mommy, I got kind of scared.”  My heart broke a little as I realized he was disappointed in himself.  I gave him and big hug and told him I could tell he was scared, but that was why I was SO proud of him- he was scared, but he did it anyway and THAT was what it really meant to be a brave cowboy.  He perked up when he realized he was still a brave cowboy, even though he had been a little scared.  He quickly began asking when he could ride a sheep again, and by the time we were back to our seat and our friends he was already swaggering and tipped his hat to his friend (K) as he told her he was a “great cowboy” (said in a super drawn out, low voice- it is his quite hilarious signature announcement). 

Baby brother was just there to look cute in his "first rodeo" shirt ;-)

We are working on important doses of humble as well… but for that night I told him he was a champion in my book and I praised his bravery over and over.  I giggled as he continued to tell everyone what a great cowboy he was.  No there was no buckle won, and no place his name would be recorded for his placing, but that night he had looked fear in the face and didn’t let it win.  After living through a year where God helped me focus on being BRAVE, I was so thankful to see my own little boy learning those lessons at such a young age.

I pray that if he is brave enough to face his fears at the rodeo, he will also be brave enough to face his fear to invite a friend to church someday, to be brave enough to stand up to peer pressure as a teen, be brave enough to speak for his faith, be brave enough to be a leader in his family, church, and community… because watching him be brave, makes ME want to be brave also.

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13