The Beard … A Eulogy

"You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard."  Leviticus 19:27  

Most years you start off around October and we all say our goodbyes in January after duck season is over.  Last year, you hung around all year.  Well, today you are gone.  You were here just a few short hours ago, being stroked by your master's fingers while he sat in church and tried to focus.  Just a few hours ago you were being pulled left and right by his son, and getting the green eye from men of all ages.  Just Friday your master got "props" and "dukes" at a wedding because you were so magnificent.  People wanted to be you.  Women would uncomfortably laugh at you, while their husbands prayed one more time for a wife that would let them grow such a wild beast of a thing.  But now you are just a memory in our pictures and in our hearts.

You taught me a lot, being the wife of a man with the "most amazing beard in the world".  You taught me to listen to him more … I had to often close my eyes while he was talking, not because I did not want to see you but because you were a slight distraction, going to and fro as he moved his jaws to talk or eat.  I listened.  I heard.  
Here is your life in pictures, my friend.

This is what you looked like as just a goatee …

In November of 2012 you helped us celebrate our anniversary where it all began, back in Aggieland.

 You were here as we welcomed our son, Patton, on January 13, 2013.  

 You were envied by college friends that gathered to celebrate the marriage of Cole.

You made clean eating difficult, yet a challenge your master was ready to tackle.  

 You stood the hardest test of all; farming season …. you made it through!

When we were in San Antonio, we were stopped by a college basketball player to tell us how impressed he was with you … I mean, you got compliments every where we went.

 You drove thousands of miles to get pigs, haul cattle, and make memories.

And you will end up big on a canvas in our living room to commemorate the year of the beard.

And here you are ….

Patton did not know what to pull on when you were gone … he reached, and you were not there. 

 Kirby was the most uncertain … she asked her daddy to "shave your beard back on" before church tonight.

You were fun while you were here, but as an honest wife, I am slightly glad you are gone.   I did tear up a little - not sure if they were tears of joy, tears of excitement, tears of sadness at the fact that all his determination was now gone, or at the fact that I survived and submitted pure love to a man hidden by hair … I am not sure.  But I am sure I am ready to have my handsome back.  You hid so much of my love's face.  I get to see him now.   I can rub his face and feel skin now.  I can lay my head on his shoulder and not have to push you out of the way.  Tonight at church I nuzzled in to his neck while we prayed like I used too and it felt like home again.  I am sure you will be back this fall.  And I would welcome you if your master decided to keep you around again.  Because it is not about what is on my husband's face; it is all about what is in his heart.  His heart is pure gold and has mine captivated for a lifetime of love.  

With love,

Lauren

"Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful."  

Song of Solomon 1:16