lambs

January 23 – Knittin’ Tending

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Know your sheep by name; carefully attend to your flocks; (don’t take them for granted; possessions don’t last forever, you know.) And then, when the crops are in and the harvest is stored in the barns, you can knit sweaters from lambs’ wool, and sell your goats for a profit; there will be plenty of milk and meat to last your family through the winter. Proverbs 27:23-27 The Message

Some people are quick to tell you what they know. Always having something to say, they create more dissension and distraction than they do any difference in anything worthwhile.

Time always tells on them. Sheep don’t lie. If they have nothing to eat, they don’t survive and there’s no wool for winter. And sheep require careful consideration. My “sheep” and your “sheep” are those people or that business and that something you have been entrusted by God to handle.

Only I can answer what that is for me. But whatever it is, my tending to it or the lack thereof speaks for me whether I want it to or not. And nobody wants to know what I think about their knittin’ when I can’t take care of my own.

Lorenzo

September 9 – Do You Hear What I Hear?

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Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many. Proverbs 4:10

Recently, my family and I were sitting around our dinner table reminiscing over a movie we had just watched. And one of the younger ones recited a quote that was just a bit off from what was actually said.

In the movie, one of the characters made a reference to another movie entitled “Silence of the Lambs.” And since this flick is in the “not appropriate” category for all of us under 50 in my house, this child was unfamiliar with it. So he called it “Silence of the Sheep!”

His mom and I busted out laughing, dating ourselves of course. He didn’t get it when we corrected him with “it’s Lamb!” To him, that detail was inconsequential; a lamb is a sheep, a sheep is a lamb!

That’s entertainment and really no big deal in the grand scheme of things. Yet, listening is a big, big deal. Especially where God and life and purpose is concerned. I think it would be easier if I could just see His face. Then, I would know exactly what to do and which way to go.

Funny thing, though. The people I am around all the time, like my family and friends, say things like, “Did you hear me, and are you listening” all the time.

Truth be told, hearing and listening usually mean two different things. To hear is “information went in my ear.” To listen is “communication has affected my response.”

And according to today’s Proverb, there is a promise associated with “receiving,” i.e., “listening.” The years of my life will be many.

You don’t have to believe it, but I personally have done my fair share of hearing without listening. The outcome stinks. And since I have no clue how to hang the stars in the sky or teach birds how to fly, I’m good with listening and living instead!