If Sheep Are Lost

'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;

Out on the hillside, out in the cold,
'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought;
And back to the flock, safe in the fold,
'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought.

And why for the sheep should we earnestly long,
And as earnestly hope and pray?
Because there is danger if they go wrong,
They will lead the lambs astray.

For the lambs will follow the sheep, you know,
Wherever the sheep may stray;
When the sheep go wrong, it will not be long
Till the lambs are as wrong as they.

And so with the sheep we earnestly plead,
For the sake of the lambs today;
If the lambs are lost, what terrible cost
Some sheep will have to pay!

We read in the papers,
We hear on the air
Of killing and stealing
And crime everywhere.
We sigh and we say,
"This generation,
Where will it end?"
But can we be sure
That it's their fault alone?
That maybe a part of it
Isn't also our own?
Kids don't make movies,
They don't write the books
That paint a gay picture
Of gangsters and crooks.
They don't make the liquor,
They don't run the bars,
They don't make the laws
And they don't buy cars.
They don't make the drugs
That addle the brain--
It's all done by older folks
Greedy for gain.
In far too many cases
We find this to be true--
The label "Delinquent"
Fits older folks, too!

Four magic words, "we can't afford it," should be a part of every child's education. A child who has never heard those words--or also has never been forced to abide by their meaning--has surely been cheated by his parents. As exercise strengthens the body, frugality strengthens the spirit. Without its occasional discipline, character suffers.
--Morris Mandel

A dad is a mender of toys, a leader of boys.
He's a changer of fuses, a healer of bruises.
He's a mover of couches, a healer of ouches.
He's a hanger of screens, a counsellor of teens.
He's a pounder of nails, a teller of tales.
He's a dryer of dishes, a fulfiller of wishes.
Bless him, O Lord.
--Jo Ann Heidbreder

A horse? A cat? A fish? A shoe?
Who quibbles with such art?
No matter what it was I knew
It came straight from his heart.

I told him it was beautiful--
I loved his big surprise!
And a million Dollars couldn't buy
That pleased look in his eyes.

"Especially for you"--three words
Such potent magic hold,
They turn the smallest gift on Earth
To one of purest gold.
--Helen Marshall

Some would gather money
Along the path of life,
Some would gather roses,
And rest from worldly strife;
But I would gather children
From among the thorns of sin,
I would seek a golden curl
And a freckled, toothless grin.
For money cannot enter
In that land of endless day,
And roses that are gathered
Soon will wilt along the way.
But oh, the laughing children,
As I cross the sunset sea,
And the gates swing wide to Heaven
I can take them in with me!