JANUARY 11, 2010

HANDING OUT HIGH-FIVES

Scripture Reading

Proverbs 13:12--"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life."

Proverbs 13:19--"The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is

abomination to fools to depart from evil."

It was a pleasant fall evening in archery season as I settled into my tree stand on the edge of a soybean field. It wasn't long before the deer started moving in abundance as they made their way to feed. Clutching my bow, I watched two large bucks in particular as they began feeding.

Suddenly, I heard a sound in the brush behind me. Turning, I saw my 13-year-old son Andrew making his way toward me. My first thought was, Now what does he want?

I signaled him to be quiet as he approached my tree. "I think I got one," he said before he updated me on the events of the last 15 minutes.

Gathering my gear, I joined him on the ground. Moments later, we were on the trail and soon we found what we were looking for--his deer. Without a word, I turned and raised my right hand. He did the same, and we shared a super high-five.

Over the years, high-fives have become a way for me and my son to say, "We did it!" without using words. When the two of us beat a five-man team of junior high boys in basketball, we did a high-five. When we rappelled to the bottom of a large, stone cliff, we did another high-five. After a thrilling horse ride or a challenging canoe trip, a high-five seemed like the right thing to do.

Dads and their sons need high-fives often. They need to face challenges, to solve problems, and to experience thrills together. High-fives have a way of keeping fathers and sons close. No, I don't just mean closeness with their hands but with their hearts.

ASSIGNMENT: It's your turn, Dad. Plan a "High-Five Event" for you and your boy.

--Tom Palmer--

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN " 1 " YEAR": Genesis cc. 33-36