“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside still waters.” Psalm 23:1-2
With six children of widely varying ages, I am challenged to keep the needs of those who are not yet occupied with formal schooling fully met. This desire led me to think about how a shepherd meets the needs of his sheep, and more specifically how the Great Shepherd cares for us.
- The shepherd is always with his sheep. If I am to care for these small ones, I need to be available to them. This does not necessarily mean I am giving them my sole attention all day, but it does mean that I am aware of where they are and what they are doing, that I make a plan for what they are doing, and if I see restlessness, I am available to feed them, read them a story or take some other measure to meet their needs.
- The shepherd meets their physical needs. Young children have a need for healthy food, regular rest, fresh air and physical activity. Planning meals so they aren’t snacking on empty calories is a way to meet their need for healthy food. Regular naptimes and bedtimes are a way to meet their need for rest, and giving them opportunities to play outside, take walks, or grow a garden can meet a need for fresh air and physical activity.
- The shepherd leads them. Young children need direction. Charlotte Mason says in Home Education, “The child must not be left to his human nature…it rests with parents…to lay down lines of habit on which the life of the child may run henceforth with little jolting and may advance in the right direction with the minimum of effort.” This book has many brilliant ideas regarding habit, but the bottom line is that when we teach our young children to automatically put their toys in the basket before going on to the next activity, or to always get dressed and brush their teeth when they get up in the morning, we will never have to discipline them for not doing these things. The more good habits we can instill in them, the less effort we must take in retraining bad ones.
Our little ones are gifts from God and worth the effort to shepherd diligently.
Jennifer Pepito-TOS Chapel Editor
jennpepito@yahoo.com
