PATIENCE IS KEY
Have you ever found yourself taking a shot on an animal and then immediately wishing that you could take it back? You and I, along with everyone else who has taken this shot knows that once you pull the trigger or send that arrow down range there is no taking it back. That’s why it is crucial that we, as ethical sportsmen and sportswomen take every shot with patience and purpose, as if that shot can never be taken back.
My youngest daughter Alaina, who is 9 years old, recently passed the California Hunters Safety course. It was just a week before The Jr. Spring Turkey opener, and let me tell you, she was excited. The evening before the hunt my daughter kept softly saying to herself “A.C.T.T., A.C.T.T.” over and over again. When my curiosity finally got the better of me I asked her, “Alaina what is A.C.T.T.?” She looked at me and said,
“(A) Assume every firearms is loaded.
(C) Control your muzzle
(T) Trigger, keep your finger off the trigger and outside the
trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
(T) Target, know your target and what lies beyond.”
Well, okay then, I guess that’s why she passed at the top of her class. She’s ready for the hunt.
The next morning we woke up early in order to get set up in the dark. Alaina looked at me and said, “I guess the early bird is getting the worm today?” “No, that’s fishing.” I told her.
The reason we get up so early is so that we can get our decoys set up and put ourselves in the perfect spot for the perfect shot. That’s what hunting is all about being prepared, and putting in the work so that when everything comes together we will have the highest chance for success.
As the sun started to rise and the birds began to call out to each other we had a strutting Tom in our setup before we knew it. I leaned over to Alaina and asked her if she wanted to shoot this bird, she looked at me like I was crazy, “Of course I do!” she said. “Okay, take your time and make a good shot.” I told her. As this Tom strutted back and forth I whispered to her “shoot”. I figured she must not have heard me because she wasn’t shooting even though, over and over again I told her to “shoot, shoot that bird, right there get it.” Nothing……Finally the Tom knocked over one of the decoys and it stopped for just a second when “BANG!!!” Alaina shoots. And down went the turkey. Later I asked her why she didn’t shoot when I told her too and she said, “Dad, I was waiting for the perfect shot and it wouldn’t stop moving.” Right then I knew my daughter was a strong little woman. She knew what was right for her, even when I was pressuring her to take a shot she wasn’t comfortable taking. What a great lesson we can all learn from.
1 Corinthians 15:58say’s,
“…stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Don’t give up in doing what is right and don’t give in to the pressures of this world. The Lord has given you strength to stand firm in this world no matter what others may be saying. Know who you are in Christ, and when the pressures come you will not be moved.
Just like a little girl who couldn’t be pressured into taking a bad shot…. Stand strong in who you are in Christ, do what you know is right, and don’t conform to this world.
Written By, ProStaff Member
Kevin Ratliff
