When I started this blog, I titled it “l and k the lucky ones” because my husband always says that I’m the lucky one to be married to him. He then follows up saying that we are both lucky. If you follow my blog, you know that I often state that we continue to be the lucky ones.

When I first met Leonard, hunting and fishing were not part of his routine. Sometime around his thirtieth birthday, that began to change. Since that time, he lives and breathes hunting. He says that there were a couple years that he did not harvest a deer, but for me, it seems that he has not missed a year. He is extremely faithful, not pausing in the precious hunt. Morning, mid-day and evening, rain, snow, any element, you can find him in his deer blind. Some days, he comes back with white fingers and frozen toes. Some, hunt for sport, some for that trophy buck and then there is Leonard. He takes this hunting very seriously. He is not hunting for sport, albeit if he comes across a big buck, he will aim for it. Still, this is not his motivation. He is motivated by providing for us. He always says whether fishing or hunting that he is looking for groceries.

I have to say, that I am quite thankful that he is such an advid hunter…yes, the lucky one. 🙂 I realize that some people are not fans of venison. Growing up on a farm, where we had beef readily available, I was not either. The fact remained, that when we were young and our kids were living at home, we did whatever we could to save money. Venison was a frugal alternative. Especially, since Leonard is not extravagant in his guns or ammunition. He does not waste. At present, I am so used to venison and enjoy the meals that we make with it and especially these days when you can’t trust where the meat has been in the store.

This year, hunting has been a struggle for Leonard. He had been hunting from October first all the way through until November 30th. His spirit was low as he would faithfully go everyday and not even see a deer and even when it snowed, he didn’t see tracks. Discouragement was at an all time high.

On November 30th, the final day of firearm season, I was sharing with the Lord how discouraged Leonard was and if it would be possible for Leonard to at least see something. He came in from hunting and decided to go to the senior center for lunch. I met him there after Bible study, so we went home separately. When I returned home, he came in and said, “I shot one. I have to wait a bit, so it doesn’t run away. He asked me to pray that he didn’t hit a deer only for it to run away.” (He would feel horrible if that happened). He also asked the Lord to help him find it.

It seems that he had saw the deer in our field from the county road as he was driving home…remember, he hadn’t been seeing anything all season. Then, he came in, got his gun and drove over the hill from our house. The deer was several yards away, but had noticed him. So, Leonard shot free hand and hit him from so far away. It was a really long shot!!!! He came home and asked me to pray and also ask me to help him track the deer.

As it turns out, the deer went a bit in our woods, but we were able to find it. I praised God for His Provision and asked Leonard if he had thanked the Lord and he said, “Yes, have YOU!?” Several times as we were bringing the deer home, I heard Leonard thanking the Lord.

Our Lord is such an awesome God that not only does he provide for us to sustain but he also provides encouragement for a discouraged hunter who only wants to provide for his family. Because we serve an awesome God, we continue to be the lucky ones! 🙂