You know you are from the South when you turn 8 years old and your grandfather gives you a shotgun. My son Caden could hardly contain himself when he got his, and after much practice and instruction, we went on a deer hunt. It would be a day we will never forget.

My father-in-law put us on the edge of a field, and we hid behind a tree. Caden had one shot for his .410 shotgun, and I had five shots in mine. “The deer will come right out in front of us if the dogs jump one,” I whispered. “Aim for the shoulder and pull the trigger. I promise that I will give you the first shot.” If I had known what was about to come out of the woods, I would not have made that promise.

We heard the dogs barking and our heart rate picked up. And then the biggest buck I have ever seen bounded out of the pines. The buck seemed to be the size of a small horse, and his antlers extended beyond his ears. My mouth dropped and I quickly put the gun up to my shoulder. This was no time to teach Caden the importance of keeping one’s word.

But, in a weak moment, I decided to keep my promise. He and I had our sites on the deer, and it was running in a radius around us at about 40 yards away. All I could think was, “Pull the trigger, Caden!” Caden waited … and waited … and waited. In my head I’m screaming, “Pull the trigger!” As the deer turned to run away from us, Caden finally shot. Then I followed with five more shots, but it was too late.

My father-in-law pulled up in his truck and said, “What did you see?” I said, “Not much. Nothing to look at.” But Caden yelled, “Daddy missed a huge buck!”

God is not impressed that you know what you are supposed to do. He wants you to do what you are supposed to do. How often do you see an opportunity to serve someone and not follow through on the impulse? How many conversations have you had with a friend far from God and not taken the next step of sharing the gospel with them? James writes, “It is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” (James 4:17, NLT).

Which is worse: to be a raging alcoholic, or to know the cure for alcoholism and keep silent? To be filled with lust, or to know the source of true love and not share it? To be a liar, or to know the truth and not tell it? Don’t waste any more opportunities.

Ten minutes later, three does ran toward us. Caden, with one shot, harvested his first deer. I yelled out, “You got one!” He looked up at me and said, “Get the rest of them!” It took me five shots, but we took two deer home that day.