Raising A Fawn

The snow is piling up deeper and deeper in north Idaho and we may soon set a new record for snowfall. The deer are having a difficult time getting around so I put on the snowshoes and packed down the trails for them. There are seven does and one fawn feeding in the backyard. I don't know what happened to the rest of the babies; probably coyotes killed some of them last summer. The does are a family group of mom, sisters, and aunts and they stay together for protection. Without them the fawn would not have much of a chance to survive. They all seem to tolerate the fawn and even let it eat with them. The does are teaching the fawn survival instincts it needs to know so the youngster can live long enough to have it's own babies. God instilled in the old does the ability to care for and teach their young so they can survive in an environment that is often hostile .

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Teach a child in the way he should go , and when he is old he will not turn from it." God is telling parents to love and guide their children in His ways not the world's ways. The way of the world will lead a child down the wrong path. Raising a child is the responsibility of both the man and woman. In the world of deer and elk the mom's do it all but God intended for humans to share in the upbringing of their children. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles are also responsible to teach the children.

The outdoors is an excellent learning environment for children. The basics found in nature can be a great learning tool and children usually enjoy it. Taking a child fishing, a hike through the woods, and hunting can teach them responsibilities for life. The most important lesson we can teach them is that God loves them unconditionally. He wants to be a part of their growth process. Teach them God is a relationship not a religion.