OUTDOOR TRUTHS: You’re first
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By Gary Miller
I was reminded the other day about a bow hunt I took with my son several years ago. I remember it because it was a rare thing for him to be able to go. Since he was a little boy, he loved basketball and got to be pretty good. Good enough to play in college. For those of you who don’t know, basketball and deer hunting season happen during the same time of the year. This is not good for the father who loves both. For many years, while others were in the woods in the afternoon, I was either at practice or at a game. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. And, as you can imagine, my son’s opportunities to hunt were scarce. So, this trip was a first for us. It was his first bow season and basketball practice was two weeks away. Not only would he be hunting with a bow, but I would be leaving him to sit in a tree stand alone, while I hunted a few hundred yards away. On the second evening of hunting, he met me at the top of the hill standing beside the deer he had shot, tracked, and dragged out. I was a proud dad. Even though that evening was special, it was actually the first evening that I was just reminded of. It was the evening when he met me at the top of that same hill, empty handed. It was my words to him as we drove home. He had not seen a deer. I asked him that evening, “Son, do you think I had rather shoot a deer, or see you shoot a deer?” He said, “Me.” I asked him again. “Do you think I would rather put you in the best place to hunt or me?” Again, he said, “Me.” I responded, “Good.”
Now if you’re a parent, you understand the power of that short conversation. You understand that my son was getting the picture of the love of a father and the greater desire I have for him than I do for myself. I want to hope that I had lived that in front of him before.
Why did my thoughts go back to that time? I believe the Lord wanted to reminded me of that to let me know how He feels about me. I can imagine, if only slightly, how much He must want what’s best for me. And even though there are days it seems I’m sitting in a place of no hope, I have confidence that if the Lord has put me there, He must know there’s a great reward that will soon come my way.
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■ Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 21 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Stay updated on Outdoor Truths each week by subscribing at Outdoortruths.org.
