LEST WE FORGET – THE FORGOTTEN BUCK
1 Chronicles 16:12
Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.
Yesterday l was in my garage and was reminiscing about past hunts and enjoying antlers. I was testing myself to.see if I new the stories behind the 50+ sets of antlers. I have a fear that someday I will forget some of the stories. Then this morning a received a note from my friend Joel... his heart was in the same place as mine. Here is what he sent me .
Dean, In my shed are sets of deer antlers going all the way back to 1968 and I can tell you what year and where each was shot. In my garage are three sets of antlers, all with special significance. One is my first Wyoming buck from the year 1968 and he was also my second deer ever taken. Another is a buck I shot at a close friend's farm along the Mississippi river back in 1975. That hunting buddy was killed in a car accident a few years later. The third is a nice buck from 1992 that I grunted into bow range. He was the first deer I grunted in and killed.
On my downstairs trophy walls are several nice deer racks, each with their own specific day and story. I enjoy remembering and reliving each of those deer in my mind and with others who are willing to listen.
There is one buck that hangs on the wall that troubles me. He is the 'forgotten buck'. The rack is a Euro mounted four by four. He is kind of spindly and based on the photos, he must have been a bow kill from the fall of 1993 or maybe the fall of 1990. He probably is a Minnesota buck, but I honestly don't remember a single thing about him, the hunt, the location, or the day itself. He hangs on my trophy wall as a constant reminder to remember every day.
We are told in the scriptures to see life as a precious and finite gift from God. In Psalm 90:12 we read, "Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom".
In Psalm 118:24 we read, "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it". Each day is a gift from God, filled with grace and new opportunities.
Thank you Joel for reminding me of this truth
Filling our minds with hunting, fishing and family memories is a good thing. However, let's make sure that we put more effort into remembering the things of God even more. He has given us so much more than antlers on the wall.
Today's prayer: "Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of this new day, another fresh start filled with countless blessings and opportunities. Help me to rejoice in it, and live it with gratitude, purpose, and love. Help me to use my time wisely and find peace in whatever this day may bring. Amen."
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