Hey everyone, I've read and enjoyed the mule deer forum for years without joining, but when I saw the question about choosing marriage or hunting, I just had to join and throw in my 2 bits:
It wasn't many years ago I was asking myself the same question- long story made short, I chose marriage but the hunting damage (gone too much, obsessing, and putting hunting before everything else) had already been done, and she left. I turned my life over to Christ at that point and 9 years later, I'm happily married and happily hunting, too.
Read what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 about how to order your life. Contrary to what most pople think, the Good Lord actually wants you to enjoy life but not at the expense of hurting yourself and others. Jesus came that we have abundant life (John, 10:10,) but if we have to question if marriage should come before hunting, we're totally missing the point. No amount of Boone and Crockett bucks will ever love you back like a wife that you've loved first.
I'm no saint (but I'm a forgiven sinner!) but I know my wife is very happy and doesn't wonder if I'd chose hunting over her. I hunt many days a year, but I make sure my house is in order first, which in turn, makes me a better hunter; 'cause if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!
If anyone thinks that being divorced will mean more hunting time, look around. Most of the guys I know that get divorced suddenly start spending time chasing women or blowing all their dough on child support, so they're no more effective hunters than when they were married. These are just one Christain's thoughts, good luck and God bless y'all.
P.S. My wife doesn't hunt, which is OK; one less rifle to buy and horse to saddle.
It wasn't many years ago I was asking myself the same question- long story made short, I chose marriage but the hunting damage (gone too much, obsessing, and putting hunting before everything else) had already been done, and she left. I turned my life over to Christ at that point and 9 years later, I'm happily married and happily hunting, too.
Read what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 about how to order your life. Contrary to what most pople think, the Good Lord actually wants you to enjoy life but not at the expense of hurting yourself and others. Jesus came that we have abundant life (John, 10:10,) but if we have to question if marriage should come before hunting, we're totally missing the point. No amount of Boone and Crockett bucks will ever love you back like a wife that you've loved first.
I'm no saint (but I'm a forgiven sinner!) but I know my wife is very happy and doesn't wonder if I'd chose hunting over her. I hunt many days a year, but I make sure my house is in order first, which in turn, makes me a better hunter; 'cause if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!
If anyone thinks that being divorced will mean more hunting time, look around. Most of the guys I know that get divorced suddenly start spending time chasing women or blowing all their dough on child support, so they're no more effective hunters than when they were married. These are just one Christain's thoughts, good luck and God bless y'all.
P.S. My wife doesn't hunt, which is OK; one less rifle to buy and horse to saddle.