by Steve Dunford 

I was anticipating writing this next week.  During the first episode of this season of Duck Dynasty, there was an announcement saying this would be their last.  I went to A & E’s website and had this week circled trying to interview a cast member.  The site said April 12 not last night was the final episode.

First off let me say, unlike the Kardashian’s or Honey Boo Boo, in my view, Duck Dynasty was good, clean TV the whole family can sit down and watch without being embarrassed.

I am friends with Tim Guradey (aka Mountain Man) on Facebook.  Maybe I can have a conversation with him in a couple of months.  I have a goal of contacting some cast members to share what they are doing in life.

The first time I watched this show, I just got home from the hospital.  It was in its first season.   For those who don’t know, I had a stroke six years ago. My life has not been the same.  Yes every day has been a challenge since them. However, every day of life has been more precious.

I am not saying this to whine, but yes there has been some bad days along the way. My marriage fell apart, and the main reason I became bitter and angry at life.  I haven’t driven in three years because I have seizures in the result of the stroke.  To this day I still struggle with them.

Throughout it all, Duck Dynasty brought a lot of laughs and tears.  I can go on about episode after episode.  Si is the funniest individual to ever be in the entertainment business.

The first two episodes I watched, had me hooked.  The first is  where they all skipped work, to take Willie’s RV to Shreveport and Willie’s new UTV’s.  Si was cooking his Vietnam concoction  The next one was going frog gigging in the country club.  Jace getting in trouble with the homeowners association for burning leaves and having chickens in the subdivision was one of my favorite also.

The Robertson’s came like family to me over the years.  I watched their kids grow up. I have to turn in my man card to admit this but I watched  one, and only one, season of Dancing With the Stars.  It was the season that Sadie finished second. Michael Waltrip on that season helped some too.  Until then, I thought Erin Andrews was just a sideline reporter for Fox Football, and back then, NASCAR telecasts.

There was some of the serious moments.  The weddings, when Jep had his seizure, when the Robertson’s bought their neighbor  a new home for Christmas.   When Mia had her Cleft Palate fixed.

It is fashionable to talk about faith and family and God even.  The Robertsons unashamedly made their stand for Jesus Christ.  Praying at the end of every episode as a family was great.

The liberal press wants to blame the stand that Phil made on traditional marriage as the ratings declining.  First I feel that it was that he had a lesser role in the the show. Second it was like M*A*S*H* was when I was a kid, the show just ran its course.

The story of Phil Robertson and Duck commander shows that you can live the American Dream.  He left his job as a high school teacher to start Duck Commander out of his home.  The family was very poor at the start, living off the land.  Now he is a multi-millionaire.

When someone does not understand the redneck lifestyle, we usually get categorized as unrefined and flat out dumb.  Phil and all his boys have Master’s degrees hanging on the wall.  You don’t have their net work by being stupid, just saying it plainly.

Yes I identify myself as a redneck.  I was more of a fisherman than a hunter.  I long to be by the creek bank again.  I love NASCAR too.

I believe that God has gives a man free will and he has a sovereign plan on some things.  The biggest thing that mankind has a free will in is whether to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  All men have the opportunity to accept him.

In the life of Phil Robertson, God had a hand in both men.  Phil was destined to be a star quarterback in the NFL.  He decided to give up football his senior year at Louisiana Tech because it took away from his passion for hunting.

His backup at Tech was my boyhood idol, Terry Bradshaw.  The rest is history about the type of career Bradshaw had in the NFL.  Both men are great witnesses for the Lord.

When Phil was in college they played against Ken Stabler and Alabama.  I found an old video on YouTube that I watched  Legendary coach Bear Bryant said in his post-game press conference that two of the best all time college QB’s were on the field that day.

Throughout the series you can tell the Robertson’s are the real deal.  You can be men among men and love the Lord and love your wives, which they all married their high-school sweethearts.  Miss Kay, Korie, Missie, and Jessica are sweethearts.  As a guy, I can spot a good woman even on TV.

The sibling rivalry between Willie, Jase, and Jep is the typical brother relationship. Willie is Type A.  Jase is Type B.  You can tell Jep is the baby.

Thank you for coming into our homes.  You have made me laugh, and most of all ministered and been a blessing to me.  There was a lot of laughs and tears watching the final episode last night.  I have the DVR set to record all the reruns.

To Si, thank you for your service to our country.