Encouragement

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Bugle Ann

My oldest son's main hobby in his teen years was Coon hunting. By saving his money working at a local grocery store, he was able to buy two Treeing Walker coon dogs. The female was named Bugle Ann and the male Scout.

He and his friends did most of their hunting on Friday or Saturday nights, the hunt usually lasting late into the night. The hunt consisted of hauling the dogs to a remote spot in the woods, build a campfire to keep warm by, and turn the dogs loose to do the hunting. The guys would set around the campfire, chew tobacco, spin yarns, and brag on their dogs. When the dogs began to bark they could tell which dog struck trail first and which dog went on tree first. All had a good time, with the possible exception of the Coon.

One such occasion comes to mind when he and a friend went on a hunt in the woods near where we live in Watson, LA. They set up camp, built their fire, turned the dogs loose, and set back to enjoy the chase. Soon the dogs were out of hearing and after several hours of waiting for the dogs to return to the camp, he and his friend returned home, leaving the dogs in the woods to fend for themselves until they could go back to the woods and retrieve them.

Early the next morning, we received a phone call from a man who had been squirrel hunting in the woods near where my son and his friend had been Coon hunting. The hunter had retrieved the dogs and asked us to come pick them up. When we got there he told us that the male dog was curled up by the hot ashes remaining from their camp fire but the female had treed a Coon near the camp and was still on the tree, voice about gone from barking all night.

Many Christians are like the male dog. We give up. The chase is too long. Its no use anyway because the coon is too high in the tree and there is no way to get him down. We talk to our loved ones about the Lord. They turn a deft ear. We get the attitude of "what is the use". They won't accept it anyway. I'll just curl up by the fire and let the world go by. They will find the Lord someday, somehow.

On the other hand we should have the attitude of Bugle Ann. Never give up. We can do it. Keep witnessing to our loved ones and our friends. Keep telling them about the Lord. That coon is in the top of the tree but if I keep barking he will eventually come down. Bugle Ann had the attitude that somehow, someway, she was going to get that coon. That should be our attitude as Christians-keep on going to win our loved ones to the Lord. Never give up!!

2nd Ti: 4:7 (KJV) I have fought a good FIGHT, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

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