12.5.24

There are few TV characters cooler than Rip Wheeler. Rip serves as John Dutton’s lead wrangler in the show Yellowstone. Growing up, Rip had an abusive father who killed his mother. As a boy, he was brought to the Yellowstone Ranch, by owner John Dutton, to avoid the foster care system. His whole life Rip looked at John Dutton as his father, but he never received any reciprocated affirmation to show him Mr. Dutton viewed him as his son.

At one point in the show, John Dutton leaves the ranch for a dangerous search and rescue mission. Before his departure, John rewrites his will and leaves it behind with his daughter, Beth. Beth brought Rip to the porch steps of one of the family houses on the ranch and read him John’s letter:

My great grandfather had a dream. All of his sons on the same ranch. Living on the same road. That dream died with me. I didn’t have enough sons. They just kept dying or quitting. Then one day not too long ago, I realized that I have enough sons after all.

The letter was John Dutton’s way of giving one of the family houses to Rip. When Beth finished reading the letter, Rip walked through the house, then back outside to sit on the steps.

Overwhelmed with emotion, he asked Beth to read the last line again.

Then one day not too long ago, I realized I had enough sons after all.

The baddest, toughest dude on the ranch had tears welling in his eyes as he whispered, “He called me his son.” 

There is a lot in the show Yellowstone which I can’t relate to. I’ve never ridden a horse. I’ve never battled progressive businessmen for land. I’ve never even been to Montana. But when you talk about a lost soul being rescued by the love of a Father – well I can relate to that.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.” – 1 John 3:1

There may be no greater status than to be a son or daughter of an everlasting Father. No matter how many times I run away or disobey, God never stops running after me and loving me. That’s what a good father does for his children. So this morning when I sat in my little blue chair and opened my bible, I reminded myself, “He calls me his son.”