LITTLE LAMB

JESUS IS OUR SHEPHERD,

WIPING EVERY TEAR

AND HELD WITHIN HIS

SACRED HEART

WHAT HAVE WE TO FEAR?

ONLY LET US FOLLOW

WHEREVER HE DOSES LEAD

TO THE THIRSTY DESERT

OR THE DEWY MEAD

JESUS IS OUR SHEPHERD

LISTEN TO HIS VOICE

HOW HIS GENTLE WHISPER

MAKES OUR HEARTS REJOICE

EVEN WHEN HE CHIDES US

TENDER IN HIS TONE

NONE BUT HE SHALL GUIDE US;

WE ARE HIS ALONE

JESUS IS OUR SHEPHERD

FOR HIS SHEEP HE BLED

WE..HIS LAMBS HE SPRINKLED

WITH THE BLOOD HE SHED

THEN IN EACH HE MARKED US

WITH HIS SACRED SIGN

THEY THAT HAVE MY SPIRIT

"THESE," HE SAID, "ARE MINE"

+++

How are we marked or designated?  We are marked upon baptism.  We are wiped clean of sin and consecrated to Christ.  What we do thereafter is another story.  Will we remain free of sin and adhere to the way of the Lord?  You know there is a bit of goodness and sinfulness in the best of us  and we don't remain free from sin very long after baptism.  With the age of reason we seem to chose the path we want to follow even though it may not be the way that was intended for us by the Holy Spirit.  We have that independent, free-will clause in our contract with Christ. Did you sign your  "papers" with indelible ink or with a pencil that can be erased?  Funny thing about pencils: they have a tendency to smudge a little and leave a little tell-tale residue of who or what we are..or what we have been-or could become.

Maturity and aging does change us.  We can age gracefully in the Spirit, finding more time to pray, reflect and meditate.  And that is good.  Or we can stagnate or move on in the Spirit or..fall backward.  The choice is yours.  There is an old saying, "What you are at 30 is what you will be that at 70."  Deify that adage.  I'm trying to.

A note to ISLAM:  I read your comment very carefully.  I can only say that there is corruption in men of  all religion, cults or persuasions. There is also goodness, compassion and mercy to be found in people of all faiths.  Nowhere do I advocate violence or hatred to God's creation...man.  If you find a wormy apple, don't you try to save the fruit?  Yes, you try to remove the  worm and retain what is good.  Keep in mind that I am not a theologian and I don't know all the answers.  I am a simple person with a simple mind.  Your comment made me think-ponder.  Bad things happen to good people...and nations.  Please feel invited to return to my postings and offer any comments.  You are most welcome to voice or contribute.



A CHILD'S POEM

A LITTLE LAMB, O LORD, BEHOLD

AND MAKE ME ONE OF JESU'S FOLD

AND MAY I FROM THIS DAY BEGIN

TO LOVE YOUR WAYS AND FLEE FROM SIN.

END