“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen!”  Ephesians 3:20-21

 

It’s “Duck Dynasty: The Last Call” as A&E is titling this last and final season. Our first episode aired March 21, 2012, and our series finale will air this Wednesday, March 29, 2017. Five years!  Where has the time gone?  Surreal doesn’t even begin to describe the ride we’ve experienced. My head and heart are so full of hundreds of stories and emotions that I want to share with you, but summing up this chapter of our lives in one article is going to be extremely difficult. No one could have predicted or remotely expected the impact that a normal American family (well, somewhat normal) could have on literally millions of people.  Please understand that this is not a way to brag on our achievements.  Quite the contrary.  I am writing to show just what God has done through a bunch of people who found each other, committed to their spouses, fought through numerous hardships, disappointments and battles and continue to hold on tight to our hope in Jesus Christ. 

 

When the very first producers came to visit us at Phil and Kay’s house in the spring of 2011 to discuss the possibility of this show, most of us were very open to it.  However, Phil and Jase both had major reservations.  Jase spoke up, “I’m just not sure how this is going to work.  The reality television I know about thrives on drama, discord, fighting, lewd behavior and cursing. As Christians, we strive to live exactly the opposite.”  The producers told us that they had seen enough on our previous series, “Benelli Presents: Duck Commander” on The Outdoor Channel to take a chance on us.  After the producers left, we had a long family meeting discussing the pros and cons of this new venture.  How would this change our lives? What if it actually was successful (1% of pilots make for a successful first season of television)? How will this effect our children on a daily basis? Will we be able to stick together as a family? And most of all, how can we stay true to our Christian values? This was going to take much dedication from each and every one of us.  We decided to go for it.  Phil prayed after our decision and asked God for wisdom as we moved forward.  He also asked God to hold us accountable.  I’ll never forget him saying, “Father, if you see that we are not using this opportunity for your glory, take it away.” 

 

Wow, what a statement!

 

The above scripture is one I have been able to recite by heart for over 30 years. I actually learned it as a song in church youth group.  However, it has never meant more to me than over the last five years.  The most powerful way has been through my prayer life.  I used to talk to God about things I was only aware about.  That’s seems plausible, right?  How can you talk to someone about something you have no indication of?  Read that scripture again.  It’s not our power.  It’s His.  We can’t even imagine what God can do in our lives.  If we can’t imagine it, how can we even talk to Him about it?  My prayers changed from, “God, fix this or that” and “help me with this and that” to “use me however you can” and “God, I’m open to whatever opportunities you send me, just keep me on track to glorify you”.  God has no limits, so why was I limiting him?  Not anymore.  If God can do what he did with our crazy family, I can’t wait to see what he does next.  It’s actually quite exciting!

 

From morning talk shows, to hosting awards shows, to presenting an award live at the CMT’s, to making our very own platinum-selling Christmas album (eek!), to filming episodes in beautiful Hawaii and Scotland, to finishing runner-up on Dancing with the Stars, to writing books, to walking red carpets, to designing clothing lines to encourage modesty and class, to launching a jewelry business to help women coming out of addiction and sex trafficking, to starting charities to promote adoption and help children born with cleft lip and palate, to adding 5 new family members (2 by adoption and 3 by marriage) to appearing in almost 12 million homes in one given night, to speaking in front of hundreds of thousands of people in the hopes they will give their lives to Christ.  These are only a few of the things God has used for his glory through our family over the past 5 years.

 

No one could have predicted even one of these things.

 

But God knew all along.

 

Ephesians 2:8-10 says, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

 

One last thing I want to say is “thank you”. 

Thank you to our fans for watching us each week.  Without you, there would be no Duck Dynasty. 

 

Thank you for supporting us when we speak up for Christian values.

 

Thank you for supporting the Mia Moo Fund and ultimately cleft children born in the US. 

 

Thank you for praying for our family.

 

On that initial day with the producers at Phil and Kay’s house, we gathered around Kay’s kitchen island with food covering every square inch, put our arms around each other and bowed our heads while Phil lead us in prayer. After the prayer, one of the producers asked, “Do you always do this, or is this special just for us?”. We laughed. Yes, we always do this. Yes, we always pray to our Almighty Creator before we eat. Yes, we eat together quite often. No, this is not a special occasion. He then said, “I think we might could use this in the episodes.”

 

The statement I most hear in my travels is, “Thank you for praying at the end of every episode.”  But, you see, the cameras had nothing to do with that part of the show.  We may have moved from the kitchen island to a set table with matching plates, matching cups (except Si’s) and tablecloths, but the fact that we pray before each and every meal is not staged, and no producer tells us what to say in those prayers.  Thank you to our amazing on-set crew for loving us for these past five years and showing us respect for our values.  We will truly miss you.

 

My last Thank You is to A&E. It was and continued to be their decision to show our family praying, and not just at mealtime but during weddings, when Mia was in the hospital and numerous other occasions. They took a big chance in today’s anti-Christian society to put that on national television and keep it there night after night, even after much controversy. You see, God used them for his glory also.  Again, “more than all we can ask or imagine.”

 

“What will you do next?” is a question I am hearing a lot lately.

 

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

 

Duck Dynasty: The Last Call may be what A&E is titling this end to an era,  but we know that our final calling comes from God Almighty. So, I shrug my shoulders and respond, “whatever God calls us to do.”

 

Have a limitless week!

 

Catch the final episode of Duck Dynasty on A&E Wednesday, March 29th, 8pm CST!

 

For more information regarding the Mia Moo Fund or Missy's jewelry line, please visit:

www.miamoo.org

www.laminindesigns.com 

Comments

nancy stearns:

MY HEART BROKE WHEN YOU STOPED SHOW. IM ABOUT 80 AND I LOOKED FORWARD TO THE SHOW EVERY WEDS. MY TEARS ARE REAL BECAUSE I MISS YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE EVERY SHOW ON DVD BUT ITS NOT THE SAME. I LOVE YOU ALL, SO MUCH LIKE MY FAMILY.

Sep 13, 2017

Jaci:

Wow! What a powerful message!
I have to be honest, I never watched Duck Dynasty. I always said to my husband “this is stupid! Turn it off!” but one day his parents were visiting and they were watching it and I absolutely loved it! Not only was it funny but then I saw the prayer around the table at the end and I just about burst into tears. Now I’m binge watching the whole series ;)
My husband is in the Navy so we move around quite a bit. We just moved to Saratoga Springs, NY about a month ago with our 2 month old son (now 3 months). Needless to say it hasn’t been easy. However! Last week we went to a new church and they were starting an 8 week sermon on Faith. Boy did I need to hear that. Being away from family with a newborn is quite a challenge but I have faith that we are here for a reason and something amazing will come out of it, not for us but my hope is for others.
Thank you to your entire family for filming Duck Dynasty and further expanding the Kingdom of God. God Bless.

May 11, 2017

Angeline Bane:

When I heard that Duck Dynasty was leaving TV I can’t even describe the feeling I had. I have watched and loved many different TV shows but never really felt like the characters were part of my family but that is exactly how I feel about the Robinsons. I keep thinking "how will I know how Mia is doing and when will John Luke and his little wife have another Robinson for us to love and what wondrous things will Sadie do next??? These and so many other things cross my mind and it makes me so sad to think you wonderful people will go on having adventures and I won’t know about them :-( Thank you Missy for helping us keep up with the family’s doings. I just can’t help but hold out the hope that you all might decide to keep the show going for a few more years. I love the whole Robinson family and may God continue to bless all your endeavors.

May 09, 2017

Ashley:

Thank you for sharing this. I am a teacher who teaches in a high poverty school. Recently, God’s blessed me with an opportunity to teach children who come from the other side of the… continuum. I was concerned that this switch wouldn’t be a blessing from God- how could I serve Him in a more wealthy population? But through your post, God’s shown me that this blessing isn’t about me- it’s about Him. I need to continue to serve and glorify Him in this new school. So I pray to put my faith in Him and trust that this is ultimately for His glory. Thanks again!

May 04, 2017

Kathleen :

Thank you for never being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ! Going to miss your show. Many blessings to you all….

Apr 21, 2017

Taylor:

i love this show with all my heart and im going 2 miss watching it on TV… its a good show… i love the Robertsons so much… i would love 2 meet some of them…

Apr 12, 2017

Chree :

I just want to say how thankful I am that you could share your wonderful family’s story with us. Getting to see the values and pure love that you all have for each other reminded of my roots growing up with a big family in the Carolinas. Unfourtiantly I wasn’t able to share that same atmosphere with my husband and daughter because once my grandparents passed away so did that goodness. Through your families eyes I was taken back to Sunday fish fries and a long day of fishing with my grandpa. You are all such wonderful lights brought into this world and I wish you mountains of happiness. I also just love how amazing your children are turning out. They are the teens I want my daughter looking up to. Between the Robertson beard my husband breaks out at Halloween, the Happy Happy Happy glasses I have my sweet tea in or the Willy duck bank my daughter keeps her tooth fairy money in you will always be around in my home. Thanks you for that.

Apr 06, 2017

Shar:

Really gonna miss this show. It was so different and so nice to see a family on tv with values. This was a show my family and I could all watch together! Like Jase said, so many reality shows thrive on drama and discord, so it was refreshing to see a family who cares for one another and just enjoyed everyday things, while sneaking in a lesson or two. In this world of Kardashians, I would take the Robertsons any day! Your critics tried so hard to keep you guys down, but you persevered and remained true to yourselves. Bless you all and I hope we get to see you on tv in some capacity in the future.

Apr 01, 2017

Randy:

I absolutely love the show! I buy your dvd’s! I am a Christian and respect your Christian values on the show! I am really going to miss it! I am going to have open heart surgery next week I hope! I will know more Monday morning! I would really appreciate your prayers! Thanks!

Mar 31, 2017

Jose:

I will miss you Duck Dynasty you was the best show ever.

Mar 31, 2017

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