Posted in The Hard Truth

I just came from 3foldchords blog (which I love reading) and it impressed upon me the need to blog about the difference between "goat and sheep" parenting.  In her blog she mentioned a child (her neighbor -11yrs) that is left home all day and his parents will sometimes leave without even telling him.  This really saddened me and it made me think about all the kiddos in our neighborhood and around us that stay home alone all day (during the summer or after school), and are left to fend for themselves while parents do their own agenda. I know 11 is a semi-responsible age, based on the individual maturity of the child, but there are so many kiddos that are far younger than that who stay home alone.  

I was listening to Dr. Laura  one day, and on this particular day there was a caller that explained the difference between the way goats parent and the way sheep parent.  This caller, who owned a farm and worked with these animals, said that sheep will stay really close to their lambs and if they have to leave to find food they only go within hearing distance away.  They are constantly watching and caring for their offspring, protecting them from predators or harm.  On the other hand, goats will go far away during the day and leave their kids all alone to fend for themselves, rendering them vulnerable to predators and harm.  The goats will come back at the end of the day, after they have been wandering around the mountains or landscape.

This is a sobering reminder of the calling we have as parents and as spritual sheep to mentor our little lambs and stay close to them.  We have a responsibility to listen closely to our Shephard's voice, stay near Him, and stay near our children. 

John 10:27-29
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.My Father, who hath given (them) unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch (them) out of the Father's hand.

Matthew 25:32-34
and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

John 21:17
He saith unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

As for the ones who are wandering around without their parents at home. Let's keep them in our prayers and ask the Lord to show the parents how to be true sheep Mommy's and Daddy's for their little lambs. Perhaps you may be impressed to take a little lamb in this summer to train and teach as your own.  We have one this summer and his name is Thomas.  He is indeed precious!

I just want to be a sheep . . ba, ba ba ba