"How Deer You!"- Part V

Psalm 18:32-33 “It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places.”

Living in this part of Ohio would definitely prove to have it’s own challenges for our family. Not long after starting our work at the New London church, we were returning home one starry night following the evening service. Our ride home took us through the country, which was primarily farmland and woods. We had been warned by our parishioners to always be on the look out for deer crossing the road just after dark. The only thing about being warned about the deer is that it makes you aware that they could possibly leap out in front of your vehicle without warning at any time, however, there really isn’t a whole lot you could do about it if they did, except hope that you can stop in time.

We found this out the hard way on that moonlit night. As we drove our way home, with the boys sitting snugly in the back seat of our station wagon, suddenly off to our left we caught a glimmer of the eyes of a deer shining in our headlights.  Unfortunately she was already into her leap across the road as she followed her mate who had already crossed before we came into view. It was too late to miss her as she leaped right into our headlights and then bounded on into the ditch alongside the road. We stopped immediately, and could see her lying in the ditch, obviously wounded, but still alive. One look at the front end of our car, and we realized that we would not be going any farther that night. Of course the boys were startled and upset and started crying and worrying about the poor deer. Fortunately none of us was hurt. Someone stopped and said they would go call the Highway Patrol, and so we waited. Finally the State Trooper arrived, and evaluated our situation. He called a wrecker truck to tow our car, and then privately asked my husband if we would like to have some venison for our freezer. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a freezer, and besides, we really didn’t have the heart to tell the children that the deer wasn’t going to make it. The State Trooper said he would “take care of the deer” after we left. The tow truck driver packed us into the cab of his truck and took us home. The next day we had to make arrangements to find something to drive back and forth to seminary while our car was being repaired.

Just when we thought everything was running smoothly in our lives, we were reminded in I Peter 5: 8 that:

“…The devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

But the next verse tells us to “resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” (Verse 9). And it was comforting to see in the verse previous to these that we should (verse 7) “cast all your care upon Him (God), for He cares for you.”

We were to be reminded of these verses many times in the months and years to come. We had entered upon the battlefield of the Lord, on the very front lines, and sometimes the battle would get quite heated and treacherous. But God was always there, caring for us in the midst of the battle.

In Psalm 91:14-16 God says of His servant, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”

Thank you, Lord, for your protection over our family so many many times in the past and even now still in the present.  We've had a lot of "close calls", but You have remained faithful to Your Word.  Help us to remain faithful to YOU. Amen.