Today on “Family & Friends Friday,” we’re blessed to have my friend Noble Armstrong as our guest blogger. He and his wife Heather have been members of Webster Bible Church for 15 years, joining shortly after they were married. Noble is currently an elder at WBC and previously served on our deacon board. He also helps to lead our Tuesday men’s Bible study, Journeymen. Noble and Heather have five children, ages 7 to 13. He is a middle school technology teacher in the Webster School district and enjoys woodworking, trapping and, as you will see, hunting.
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I love hunting season. Deer hunting has been a tradition in my family from as long as I can remember, and long before that. I grew up listening to stories from both my grandfathers, telling about the pursuit and harvest of whitetails. When I got older, I joined these activities and have many fond memories of being in the woods, waiting for a deer to appear. I love the cool of the morning, the sounds of the forest as it wakes up and watching various birds and animals. I love the challenge of matching wits with a wiley and crafty buck. And of course, I love the taste of venison!
For the past few years, I have enjoyed sharing this experience with my kids. Passing on this tradition to them is yet another reason I love hunting.
This year I rattled in bucks with a pair of antlers from a deer my dad’s dad, Papa Phil, shot. I use a buck knife that my mom’s dad, Grampee Leigh, gave me to field dress the animals after harvest. Although I have a lot of new, modern equipment, these activities with these particular tools link me to the past.
I know that by these activities I am keeping alive traditions that have been in our family for generations. We took the beautiful 8-point buck that we harvested this year to the taxidermist. For years to come, when my boys look at the mounted head of that magnificent animal we shot together, they will reflect back on the events of that morning in the woods.
This also makes me think of other, more important activities, that need to be passed along and remembered.
The Bible is full of examples of people who commemorated important events. After God caused the Jordan River to part, allowing the Israelites to cross, Joshua realized that moment needed to be memorialized. He had the men bring 12 stones from the dry river bed, to set up a memorial to the miracle that God performed there that day (see Joshua 4:4-7). Joshua said,
Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, “What do these stones mean to you?” then you shall say to them, “Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord….” So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.
In addition to remembering the Lord’s goodness, we are also to teach our children to love the Lord and obey his commands. Joshua’s predecessor, Moses, told the people of Israel,
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deut. 6:5-9)
The apostle Paul reminds the believers at Thessalonica to “stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter” (2 Thess. 2:15). He praises the church at Corinth for “holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you” (1 Cor. 11:2).
Even our Savior himself reminds us of the importance of remembrance and reflection as it concerns his atoning sacrifice for our sins. Jesus did so the night before he died on the cross. Scripture says,
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (1 Cor. 11:24-27)
We are in that time of year that is filled with remembrance and wonderful traditions. Let’s use that as an opportunity to remember the amazing gift that Jesus gave us, through His work on the cross.
I earnestly pray that the family prayers, Bible readings, devotions and missionary stories we read as a family will last in our children’s minds. As a family, I want to recommit to making church a high priority, serving the body of Christ, and shining God’s light to the world around us.
What about you? Are there traditions you carry on individually or as a family that bring you closer to God? If so, great! if not, why not start some new ones?