The Gift of Jackeloping

“Now in this world of ups and downs,It’s nice to know that there are jackelopes around.”

Boundin Sheep

This won’t make sense until you watch the following video.

I know it’s over 4 minutes, but it’s cute and packs a giggling punch.

I love how the jackelope is kindly curious to the lamb…not judgemental, not dragged down into pity or sadness himself…just ready to listen to the response to his question. He doesn’t shy away, avoid, argue with, get pulled down by, or convince. He asks and waits for the lamb to talk.

And then is:

  • Patiently understanding.
  • Not ridiculing
  • being helpful without taking over or solving anything
  • Gently encouraging (OK, so maybe he doesn’t handle him the lightest, but his words are kind and gentle)
  • Tenderly humorous
  • Kindly confident in the sheep’s ability to move forward

It’s profound how the lamb, after the healing influence of the jackelope, accepts the discomfort of the annual shave: the kick out of the back foot waiting to be yanked as a part of life,

  • knowing he will come back to dance,
  • knowing that the shave, though unpleasant doesn’t ultimately have to impact his ability to bound and rebound,
  • knowing that somehow he will survive being “nekked and bare” because his pink buffness didn’t define him.

The video reminded me to be grateful of the jackelopes in my life…those that are compassionate and caring, spending time with me in the rough patches, and relate to me in ways that gently and supportively challenge me to move forward and find ways to bound and rebound.

That jackelope is deceptively wise. Inspires me to be a jackelope to those in my life who might be pink, blue or heliotrope.

If you need a jackelope, show them this video. If you have no one to show the video to, then go to your boss, your Employee Assistance Plan, book an appointment with a counsellor in your area, talk to your teacher. Keep looking for someone who you can safely share your sadness, your shame, your guilt…don’t give up, because there are jackelopes out there. Keep looking until you find someone who can gently show you the way to “bound, bound, bound, and rebound”.

Who needs a jackelope in your life? Can you be one to them today?

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