John 15:11 (New International Version)
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Man what a exciting day. If you have children you will be able to relate with this and if you don't you might can relate with the child. This is my oldest son Will. He is nine. He has just started shooting good enough to hit a target at 100 yards consistently. This was my rule. He had passed that and this fall was his 1st hunting season. I was just as excited as he was. Opening day was probably one of my best hunts ever. We walked into what we call the blue stand. We had not been there long when we say 3 does. Will was ready but I had told him that his 1st deer needed to be a buck. It was not long before a nice 8 point came out at around 100 yards. I was pumped. I loaded his gun and handed it to him. He was taking aim, he stopped and looked back at me and asked, Dad is the going to hurt my ears. I said no in and quick snap and said shoot him. He asked me told hold his ears , well you know the rest of the story the deer walked on off. I had not thought about it, but he had never shot a gun with out hearing protection. He did not know that it would not hurt his ears. Anyway we finished the debate and I think he was convinced now that it was ok to shoot. So we sat and waited. The same spot another nice 8, bigger than the last came out following the same trail that the does and the other buck was on. This one had his head down coming on across. Will picked up his gun and was trying to find the deer in his scope. I was trying to help him and the deer walked on by. No shot. I was begining to see that this was going to take some time. About 5 minutes later another 8 point came out at the same spot. He picked up his gun, aimed, and fired. He missed. He was excited. He told me that his ears hurt a little though. Then about 5 minutes later we had a big deer come out the far end on my side about 200 yards. I threw up my rifle and started to shoot but could only think about the guys back at the house asking me if I pushed my son out of the way to shoot the deer. In a second he was gone. We went about 10 more times and saw many does. Never had another great shot for Will. He was starting to lose interest. I was praying that he would get another try. On our next trip out we went back to the blue stand. We had been there a while and had seen some does. Then it came. I looked up and there he was. A beautiful little 6 point. Will was taking aim as the deer kept walking by in front of use at 40 yards. I kept thinking he would shut anytime. Finally the deer stopped turned broad side at 40 yards and Will shot. The deer ran off. We got down and found some blood and looked 5 steps int the woods and there he was. I was so excited for him. Probable happier than he was. We said a quick prayer thanking God for such and wonderful deer and hunt. We were hugging and high fiving. It was great. It was all I could do to hold back the tears of joy. He had killed his 1st deer. He would never again ever kill his 1st deer. It was a very special time. I believe that God gives us these moments. We must always thank God.
Have a blessed day. Bill Howard
Psalm 100
A psalm. For giving thanks.
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his [a] ;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
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