Don’t Choke - The Deer in Highlights

I am fascinated by deer and intrigued by their beauty.

Like many people, depending on where you live, I also have a story or two to tell about deer.

Back in the days before Lyft and Uber, I often had friends and others taking me to school.

One day, we were at the light and I was running late to high school.

I hadn’t even got out of my county over into the next county, but anywho, this deer runs out of the woods and jumps over the car.

His hooves scraped the hood of the car. The driver used some choice words with a rapid flow that made me recite some Bible verses out loud for my nerves and upcoming quiz that morning.

When in college, a school mate and I were returning to school from the weekend.

Through the mountains we went and once we got up the hill, a huge deer ran out.

Unfortunately, we hit him.

Then he slid up on the car - right under the windshield. Afraid and in shock, we sat there.

After a few minutes my classmates said, “Do you want to get out and check on him?”

With my extra big eyes and an expressive face, I exclaimed, “No, we’re not getting out to see if the deer is okay.”

My classmate began laughing at my response and I ended up joining her.

Suddenly, the deer lifted his head with huge wide eyes and looked directly at us.

Once again, we were terrified.

Seconds later, though it felt like minutes, he jumped off the hood and went into the woods.

We were shook as we pulled off and extremely thankful to be able to leave safely.

The two of us talked about it all the way back to school and for many days later. I could go on and on with deer stories, but this next one brings me to the point of today’s post.

Many of us are living and reacting like the different deer that I’m writing about today - in every area of life.

Late one afternoon, my second oldest child (they were about 11 or 12 at the time) and I went to an arts & crafts store.

Just like me, she loved looking at everything so we enjoyed every minute of strolling through the aisles.

However, when we came out of the store - it was late and dark.

On the way back home, we drove on the back roads. The windows were down while the two of us were talking and laughing.

Now, I was driving slower to be cautious but I was so lost in my storytelling that I didn’t realize these two deer were standing on the yellow lines seemingly waiting graciously to cross the road.

Not until I was literally passing them and they were in my windows view.

Please understand something about this next part: many actresses, actors and other people can scream on demand.

Well, normally, I can’t scream like that, but honey, this was my moment: I screamed! My scream startled both my daughter and both deer were so startled by the noise coming from me.

Thankfully, the deer stepped by.

Each of the deer in the stories above were in motion to get to the other side.

The first was running from left to right, making a high jump.

The second was running got hit but got back up after facing straight on what hit

him.

The last set of deer weren’t running but I believe they became frozen by the lights got to the middle of the road and stopped.

During homeschooling, things will cause you to stop and want to freeze you like a deer in headlights.

Sometimes, someone’s comment, a subject you feel inadequate in teaching, the curriculum, budget, life, taking care of a sick relative or even separation within a family can throw off your homeschool journey.

Whatever it is like when I screamed because I was startled and the deer jumped.

Right now - for you - I am screaming WAKE UP!

It is a brand-new day.

Again, it is a brand-new day.

I want you to get to the other side of this, whatever it is, no matter how big or small.

No matter how long you have had to wrestle with it.

No matter how deafening it has been.

No more deer in headlights.

You shall live and not die and enjoy an abundant life in the Lord.

No more getting stuck in the headlights!