Last Saturday, my son-in-law, Donnie, invited me to go to the shooting range with the family. I hadn’t been shooting in years, and I’d only shot a shotgun twice in my entire lifetime, but I had never attempted to shoot skeet before, so I went along. We drove to a shotgun shooting range about an hour north of us. Then Donnie set up the skeet launcher. The only way that I could shoot those skeet was when they were stationary in the bushes. I couldn’t hit the ones that were flying through the air, though I tried my best. My grandson, Jay, age 14, was good at shooting skeet, and 12-year-old Luke hit a few of them
The day was fun. Donnie called it “shotgun therapy.” To him, shooting skeet was relaxing, and when he felt stressed due to work, finances, or circumstances, this was a great way for him to unwind. We live in such a stress-filled environment that from time to time everyone needs to engage in an activity they find relaxing and enjoyable.
What is your “shotgun therapy?” Is it reading? While we were shooting, my daughter, Jamie, was reading a book and crocheting. That’s her “shotgun therapy.” But what is yours? Is it television or shopping or sports or walking in the woods? What helps you to feel refreshed and re-energized? I think for me, there is nothing more relaxing than taking a walk with the Lord – just the two of us – and allowing myself to dwell on His goodness and His blessings on my life, recalling with gratitude so many of the wonderful things He’s done for me. It always leads me to singing and making melody in my heart to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:19) And there’s nothing more relaxing than praising God with a heart of thanksgiving.