I have layers of reasons for titling this post Incredible Strength. Probably will only barely touch on the surface of a couple of those reasons. 😜 It is something I am currently chewing and stewing on. Have been for a few days now. Specifically…the strength of man. Father’s strength too.
I am going to skip around here with the timeline. Be patient with me. 🙃
It all started when I spent time with my sons in the woods recently. Then again, this morning it came back up in a text message between Vanessa and I. I have that screenshot below.
Before I get into the meat of the post…which is pretty short…I want to write a disclaimer here. A WARNING.
This post is going to be heavy on photos. A lot of the photos are pretty graphic. I am starting with a benign screenshot out of consideration for the masses.
If you are someone who chooses to be weak of the soul and spirit…you might want to back out of this post now.
If you are someone who in their weakness…chooses to deal with the weakness…to gain strength…then be warned this is an opportunity to gain strength.
I say these things because quite a few of the photos contain blood. They also contain images of a dead deer.
Many people choose to hate those who utilize the sources Father has created and given us to feed our families. That includes eating meat. Also…hunting the animal that provides said meat our families eat.
If you are a tree-hugger PETA person…you might want to take your offense somewhere else. If you are weak in the stomach and can’t take the sight of blood…back out of this post.
Promises
Early…early this morning, I felt like Father was telling me it was time for His promises to come to pass. I wasn’t really sure about it. What that meant exactly. I think I have become seriously desensitized to His words these days. They just don’t penetrate my heart like they used to.
It seems they come in and then I move on. Not sure what to do with them. The weight of them has changed for some reason.
As soon as I sat down to eat breakfast, got a phone call that one of His promises had come to pass last night. Almost immediately after getting off the phone, Vanessa sent me a text asking if I had heard.
The family is buzzing. I included a screenshot of a small portion of our text convo. Vanessa including the Mr. Incredible portion is an important piece of the puzzle in this situation.
Those who are in my inner circle intimately know how important this little clip is to my heart. I have been waiting years to see Incredible Strength coming from Father’s side of this story.
I found it interesting Vanessa mentioned it. One promise down…MANY more to go. Man…they are some doozies. As I say in the text…I am still skeptical, but we are off to a good start. If this is where we are going…finally. 🤷♀️
A Hike
Donovan got a buck.
While I was working, he came and sat down across from me. He was so excited he couldn’t hold it in. Had to tell me the whole story. He is so cute. Kills me. Makes me smile. Always that animated little boy inside who would melt my heart with that ornery smile of his.
When he shot it, it ran off. He came back home to give it a few hours to die. His plan was to have Mitchell help him pack it out. When he gets a doe, he usually guts it in the field and then carries her to the truck on his back like a backpack. Crazy cool how he contorts her into that position on his back. The whole thing fascinates me.
At other times, Donovan will butcher the buck in the field and pack the meat out in meat bags. When he gets to the truck, he throws them in the cooler located in the bed.
When Donovan was telling me about his deer, he said he was going to have Mitchell help him butcher it and pack it out. However, Mitchell thought his train would leave earlier…which meant he couldn’t help Donovan. He would be called out to work.
I told Donovan…I will help you if you want. Not sure how much meat I can carry on my back, but I will carry as much as my little body will do.
The hunting spot was one and a half miles from his parking spot. The plan was for us to hike in, butcher the deer, and make two trips packing the meat out.
Mitchell
Thankfully, right before we needed to leave, Mitchell let us know he could go after all. His train was delayed, and he wouldn’t be called out until the middle of the night.
I was ecstatic. I got to spend HOURS with my sons…IN THE WOODS. Swoon! For real.
Seems so silly to most…but to this Momma…man…it is a big deal.
SO MUCH FUN!!!!!! Had a blast with these two men.
I love sitting back and watching the two of them interact with each other. I don’t even need to talk. Just watching and listening…music to my ears. Makes me warm and fuzzy all over.
In the Woods
On the way to our destination, Donovan said…now Mom…if you do a blog post…you can’t tell anyone where I killed my deer.
🤦♀️ *Sigh* I reminded him of all the times we went mushroom hunting. How people would ask me where I found those mushrooms. My response was always the same…in the woods.
I am always amazed at how my children forget that I have smarticles. Twice now…he has questioned my ability with a manual transmission. I always remind him I taught him how to drive a stick. Taught his wife. Taught all the children to drive a manual transmission.
I believe at some point in his life…he will stop questioning my abilities. I can hope. 😜
Hike Back
The hike back to our spot was glorious. I brought up the rear by choice. Wanted to watch the men…but also to enjoy the view of the woodlands as I went along. Didn’t want to hold them up.
Along the way, I collected little treasures for Ahnalaya Ann. I have been wanting to find her larger acorns and small pinecones for some nature projects. I FOUND exactly what I wanted. Filled my pockets full of my little treasures. She was thrilled to see them when I got back.
Takes so little to entertain us. 😆 Nature is a treasure in every way.
Tracking
When we got to our spot, we started tracking the buck. I haven’t tracked a deer in years. Forgot how tedious it can be trying to spot little specks of blood on a floor of reddish-brown leaves.
In our search for the blood trail, Mitchell found one of Donovan’s arrows. Impressed with his eyesight. My eyes are old. 😜
Eventually, we lost the blood trail. We split up and started hunting for the buck. Donovan went down the middle toward a ridge. I took the left side while Mitchell took the right.
In a bit, I heard Donovan call out. He had found him in a thicket of thorns. He spooked him and had to shoot him again in my direction. Donovan told me to join Mitchell behind him. Mr. Mitchell Man and I headed up on the ridge behind Donovan to watch the show from above. You will see us in a photo below up on the ridge. Donovan called Mitchell to update him on the progress.
Lighting
I found my phone photos interesting. Some of the photos depict the lighting as being daylight…when it was really quite a bit darker then it appears. I didn’t adjust the lighting in post-processing.
When Donovan started gutting the deer, it was already darker than the photos show. Technology amazes me…so often.
Incredible Strength
Here is where the cogitating of strength started…at least a recent part of that conversation.
I watched my sons drag that buck back to the truck. They hauled that heavy thing over fallen trees, in and out of creek beds, through ditches, up and down hills and valleys. The last quarter of a mile was the worst. Had a ravine to go through. Parts of it was one-person foot traffic only.
It was at least a mile and a half to the truck. In the dark.
The headlamps were awesome, but man…with wet leaves, fallen trees, and uneven ground…it was a chore.
I followed behind them carrying Donovan’s bow along with the larger flashlight.
As I watched them pull that buck along, I thought a whole lot about how strong men are.
It reminded me of a convo I had with a friend of mine who is a personal trainer. We once talked about the strengths of women vs men. He and I were in unity. Men have the upper hand when it comes to physical strength, but women have the upper hand regarding inner strength.
Feminism
I find it unfortunate that most of mankind can’t seem to celebrate the opposite genders’ strengths. Instead, they want to tear each other down.
I have never understood the feminist stance of a woman trying to be stronger and better than a man. More capable of. A woman feeling the need she has to compete against a man. Outdo him. 🤷♀️
I have always appreciated the physical strength of a man. Super thankful when I don’t have to carry and lift heavy things/burdens.
Father designed it that way. Christ as the Supernatural man is to carry our heavy burdens for us. For the Bride of Christ. His Bride. He is supposed to carry Her. Take the burdens from Her.
He has that kind of supernatural strength. Incredible strength within Him.
For that, I am truly thankful.
Men and women were created to work together and complement one another. The two make one.
Choosing to live by Christ as Truth is choosing the greater strength for you are taking on His strength. His is incredible.
Something to think about.
Have a MARVY day!!!