Weekly Devotion May 20, 2024

This Devotion was written by Sportsmen Devotional and posted with permission

Bible Study Verse: Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, ven when he is old he will not depart from it. NASB1995 

Thoughts: I remember taking my oldest son on his first turkey hunt when he was 11 years old. I had never been turkey hunting, but that did not stop us. The local Pheasants Forever Club has a turkey youth hunt every year. So, I signed him up for it, and we went for a 2-day hunt with an experienced turkey hunter. We heard some turkey and had a good conversation with them. None came in sight for us, till the last hour of the last day of the hunt. Our guide called a Tom into a good range and while the turkey was walking across the field, my son took his shot. He missed and the turkey was gone before he could get reset. He was disappointed that he missed, but he was hooked. He was already excited to be back the following year to try again. 

Action Point: We, as godly dads, need to remember that our children need us not just to provide physical things for them but also a spiritual foundation. While our children are young, we need to spend time with them, teaching them God's word and how to handle the things this world throws at us. My son missed that turkey, and instead of being down, he was excited that he got to be out in the woods, walking around and enjoying what God had given us. He looked at the positive side of things. He also knew that he was going to be trying turkey hunting again. God is telling us that we need to be part of our children’s lives and to make sure they grow strong in Him and not the world. Plan a trip with your kids; it doesn’t have to be a hunting trip, but rather a time outdoors and talk about what God has given us and how to handle what the world is taking from us. 

Sportsmen's Tip of the Day: I had a good friend show me a trick for figuring out the direction of the wind. He had an old 35mm film container with cotton weed in it. So, when you get to the location, you are planning to hunt, take some out and drop it above your head and see where it goes. Now you know what way is downwind.