Bible Study Verse
Jeremiah 32:17-19
“Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the fathers’ sins into the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is the LORD Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve. (NIV)

Thoughts
On the last Saturday before school starts we celebrate with a father and sons’ tradition. We take the long awaited adventure by canoe!

We had put in up river and had a great fourteen hours of floating, paddling, and a satisfying shore lunch. The August weather was good for Alaska, however the temperature was dropping and the water temps are always cold. We were within a ¼ mile of our landing moving across the water quickly in our big canoe when I decided to take off my paddling gloves. I peeled the glove off on my left hand and my wedding band arced across the water and plopped about ten feet beyond the side of the canoe. I was sitting in the front and both sons saw the ring make the splash. It was quiet for several seconds as I chose to make it a teaching moment. If I exploded in anger it would solve nothing and teach the wrong response to my teenage sons. Instead I said, “Boys am I in trouble now.” It broke the tension and both started laughing and teasing me. It wasn’t the first ring I’d lost and they knew it. I was heart sick but there was nothing I could do.

We got to the house and my wife was waiting for us. When we landed the boys couldn’t wait to tell their mom about the trip. We had seen a great deal of wildlife, beautiful scenery, and had a wonderful time but to them dad losing his ring in the water seemed to be the highlight of the trip. (Marshall M)

Action Point
As a dad you have the unique opportunity to teach your children about life. Your responses to everyday life situations will influence your children for the rest of their lives. Sometimes our responses are taught to us by our parents and they may not always be correct. To learn the right way to handle tough situations, you can learn from your Heavenly Father. Jesus taught the disciples how to respond to adversity, stress, and life with love. He took time to think about his responses and did not just react.

It may sound almost a simplistic phrase, but it is great way to live and teach life to your kids:

What Would Jesus Do?

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
When canoeing always remember that capsizing is a possibility. In fact plan for it by tying down all bags and extra gear. Create a survival bag for long trips. This should be a waterproof, floating bag that includes a dry change of clothes, the ability to start a fire, communication, and first aid gear. Wear a life preserver at all times and make sure all on board also wear a life preserver.