THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

May 25, 2022

LIFE IN THE FOLD

The past few days I've been seeing a lot of posts on social media about high school graduations. There are pictures from proud parents and grandparents of their special graduates. I'm sure many graduates are excited about finishing this season of their life; while others are feeling anxious or sad about this time coming to an end.

It has brought back many memories of my school years.... long, long ago!

See, I had a rough start to my school years! I didn't want to leave my mama and have to go off to school each day. My kindergarten years was painful for many! I cried every single day of the year, from beginning to end. True story!! I believe that particular teacher only taught that one year at my school.

I cried every day, until the teacher would let me go sit with my sister, Janie, who was in the classroom across the hall from the kindergarten room. She was in 5^th grade at the time, so having her baby sister come sit with her every day was embarrassing and aggravating. She hated it!

Students in her class hated it, also, and would try to bribe me with money to go back to my own classroom. I'm sure they felt sorry for Janie, having a crying 5 year old sitting beside her every day.

I would cry every morning when it came time to get on the bus, which made it tough for my mom. Many years later, the lady who was our neighbor at that time, told me that mama would be upset and say that she didn't know when I was really sick and when I wasn't, because I would cry and say that I was every morning.

I'm not sure how I passed kindergarten, but I did! Probably because the school didn't want to have to put another teacher through that again. Actually, I wasn't the only crybaby in kindergarten. There were several who were the babies of their family, who didn't want to be in school either.

After kindergarten, I guess I realized that I was going to have to go to school whether I wanted to or not, so I didn't cry the following year and did fine. It could have also been because the 1^st grade teacher had been there for probably 40 years or longer and had a reputation for being no-nonsense and a little mean.

I was a good student, but wasn't one of those kids who loved school. I was quiet during my school years and wasn't outgoing; nor did I get involved in anything, other than music, during my high school years. I had friends, but was by no means popular. And any opportunity I had to miss a day, I was all for it!

Therefore, when it came time for me to graduate high school, I was ready! I had been anticipating that day for 13 years and it was an exciting time for me.

I did cry on my graduation day, but for a totally different reason. Mama had passed away my sophomore years, and the day of graduation it hit me pretty hard that she wasn't going to be there to celebrate with me and I missed her like crazy.

So, I started my first day of school with tears and ended my high school years with tears; but for very different reasons, but both because of Mama. The first time was because I didn't want to leave her and wanted to stay home with her; the second time was because she had to leave me and I wanted her to stay home with me.

But there is going to be a third graduation day for me some day, where I will graduate from this life on earth and receive my "diploma" from the Father. When I receive it, I want to hear Him say the words, "Well done, Loretta!" When that happens, my mama will be there to rejoice with me and we will never have to be separated again! Daddy, my sisters, and other family members and friends will all be there to celebrate together. What a day that will be!

Life brings about many emotional moments; times of blessings and good, as well as times of difficulties and hardships. We laugh, we cry, we rejoice, we mourn. All of us experience these ups and downs -- the valleys and the mountain tops.

But let us hold onto that blessed hope, that promise of eternal life. Let's run this race of life with courage and boldness and keeping our eyes firmly focused on Jesus. Even if we stumble and fail or get discouraged, when God reaches down His hand to pick us back up, let's grab hold and allow Him to dust us off, heal our wounds, and get us back on the right path.

Let's keep prepared for that eternal graduation that we will all one day face; whether it be through death or the rapture.

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

I was another one of those students who couldn't wait to leave high school. I looked forward to college so much that I was happy to leave high school behind. I didn't have any strong ties to students in my class, so didn't mourn for heading my own separate way. In fact, I only saw a few of them for the next ten years, and that was just because they went to the same college.

When Lot and his family had to flee from Sodom, they all left without even looking back, except one. Lot's wife turned back to look at what she had left behind. And she died because of it. Lot and his daughters didn't care to even glance behind themselves. They just left.

When our time comes to head to heaven, we need to have the same attitude. We may have loved ones, and ties to people in this life, but the things we had, bought, made, or collected will be pointless at that point. There is no need to look back. What is waiting for us in heaven is so much better that those things don't even deserve a quick glance.

We should try to keep that in mind before that, too. Whatever we treasure here and now is really meaningless in the long run. We need to know its true value, and how short that value will be.

ON THE MENEWE:

Cream Cheese Filled Pastry

Spread half of the roll of crescent roll dough onto the bottom of an 8x8 pan. Press seams together.

Mix together the softened cream cheese with the sugar and vanilla; spread of the crescent dough.

Cover with the remaining crescent dough.

Melt 2-3 tablespoons of butter and brush over the top of the dough. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

I was babysitting my nephews two kids last week. They had wanted to come to my house and play for a while, then I took them back home in time for their naps. When we were in the car going back to their house, my 3 year old niece wanted me to tell them a secret. I told them that when I was a little like they are, my hair wasn't white like it is now; but I had black hair like Mariah. She was shocked and said, "What the heck?!" Then she and Malcolm laughed and laughed, like that was the funniest thing they had heard! I'm not sure that they believed me!!

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

The Bible is like a stepladder.

It helps us see things from a different perspective and that changes everything. - Luke Lang

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org