Youth

A few weeks ago a friend Gabe Murphy spoke in church.  Gabe and his wife Cora are amazing with youth.  They inspire me.  Anyway he read this poem as part of his talk.  It really made me think about role as a parent and I wanted to share it with all of you.

‘Twas a sheep, not a lamb, that strayed away

In the parable Jesus told,

A grown-up sheep that had gone astray

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And out in the meadows, and out in the cold,

‘Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought.

And back to the flock and safe into the fold,

‘Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought.

Why, for the sheep, should we earnestly long

And so earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger, if they go wrong,

They will lead the young lambs astray.

For the lambs will follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray;

If the sheep go wrong, it will not be long

‘Til the lambs are as wrong as they.

So, with the sheep we earnestly plead

For the sake of the lambs today,

If sheep are lost, what a terrible cost

Some lambs will have to pay!