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

October 22, 2025

LIFE IN THE FOLD

I'm sure most of us have all heard the saying, "The grass is greener on the other side." Another version of that is along the lines, "The grass is greener on the other side; until you find out that it's on top of a septic tank."

People are often not satisfied with what they have. They think that other people have it better or more opportunities than they have. They believe if they could only move to another place or live in a better home or make more money, then they'd be better off. Life always seems better someplace other than where they are.

There may be some situations where that is true, depending on circumstances, but generally, moving locations or making changes doesn't bring about contentment. People find that what they had wasn't quite so bad after all. The place where they find themselves often brings about a whole new set of unforeseen challenges; or they have to adapt to how things are done differently.

Jon and I recently went on a ten day vacation to the west coast. Then a few days later, I traveled to Maine with my sister to visit her son and his family for a few days. On both trips, I found things, that I had always taken for granted, were very different in those areas.

Jon and I normally pretty much stay within a 4-hour radius of our home; which is northeast Oklahoma, northwest Arkansas, and southwest Missouri. We can stop at any fast food place or gas station/convenience store and use the bathroom. We, also, never even consider that there could be safety issues.

When we were on the west coast and a little further inland in the west, we found that we couldn't just walk in and use the bathroom in fast food places. The bathroom doors were locked, and an employee had to push a button underneath the front counter to unlock the door for us. We had to ask to be let into the restrooms! We were a little shocked!!

We, also, found that you couldn't just go into a gas station convenience store to use their restroom. Some had the hallway blocked off so you couldn't get in. Some had combination locks on the bathroom doors and someone had to go unlock it before we could use it. When you're traveling, finding available restrooms along your route is of vital importance! We were very surprised at how many bathroom doors were locked or blocked off.

There were a couple of gas stations we stopped at, that didn't seem to be in a seedy area and looked to be clean and in safe locations, but they had security guards (in uniform) employed. I don't know of any gas stations anywhere in the Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri area, where we generally travel and stop at, that hire security guards. It really made me wonder why those locations (I'm pretty sure it was in two different states) felt the need to do so.

When in Maine, the area where we were had very few places to eat that were fast food. Not like where I live, where there are probably at least 15 (maybe more) within two miles of my home. I think within a radius of 10-15 miles of where my nephew lives, there were three. Restaurants were expensive. We did find a couple of really good places to eat, but their main complaint was that there are no good restaurants -- the people in Maine don't know how to cook like southern people do! My nephew's wife said, "These people need to learn how to use some seasoning and butter!"

I was also very surprised when we ran to Walmart and there were no bags to put your stuff in. I did self-check and the register asked, "How many bags did you use?" I thought, "There are no bags here to use!!" I suppose people who shop there regularly, know to take their own bags. Almost every single place we went, if you wanted a bag to put your stuff in, you had to buy it.

I'm not used to that! I'm used to having available plastic or paper bags here in Oklahoma to put my stuff in when I shop. Perhaps some consider it wasteful, but you can recycle those bags for trash bags at home or find other uses for them.

These are just simple examples of how the grass may sometimes look greener on the other side, until we get there. Things look more beautiful and better than where we are; until we get a firsthand taste of what it's really like. Yes, it may be beautiful on the outside, but there are things that have to be dealt with that weren't anticipated. It isn't the perfection we thought it would be. This can happen in the location in which we live, a career change or job promotion.... really anything pertaining to life.

I think sometimes we equate happiness with contentment. We think if a change is made, then we will be more happy and filled with contentment. But then we find our life still filled with challenges and hardships; they just look different than they did before.

We get that promotion at work that we longed for, only to find that there are a lot of added responsibilities and longer hours and more stress. It's not the glamor and prestige that we had anticipated.

There seem to be many who think if they were married to someone different, life would be so much better. Affairs and divorce are very common in our society. Many times, people find that there are the same responsibilities, conflicts and differences of opinions, and challenges as they had before. Changing spouses isn't always the wondrous thing that was imagined. It still comes down to love, commitment, being faithful to your vows, and keeping God as the center of your lives and marriage.

Paul is the best example of what it looks like to be content in life; regardless of circumstances or what he does or doesn't have. He learned that it wasn't based on material things, where he lived, or even if he was always happy. He endured a lot of really tough situations! Yet throughout it all, he was content. How could he be so? It was only through Christ!

Paul writes in Philippians 4:11-13, "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."

It's not wrong to desire new things or to make changes or move to a different location or take a job promotion or buy a new home, etc. But the key is to not look to those things for your contentment. Oh, they may bring happiness for a time, but the new will wear off and there will be challenges, at some point. True lasting contentment is found only in a relationship with Jesus. It's in learning that your strength comes through Christ.

Lastly, notice that Paul didn't say, "I am content with whatever I have!" He said, "I have learned how to be content with whatever I have." There may have been a time in his life when he struggled with this issue and it wasn't easy for him to do without or be hungry or live on almost nothing and have very little. He may have had moments when he thought, "God, I'm serving you and doing the ministry that you've called me to do and being faithful, yet this is really hard not knowing where my next meal is coming from and not having any money! I'm constantly traveling and away from my home and loved ones." Yet, through it all, he at some point came to a place where he learned to be content with whatever he had. He learned that he could do all things through Christ, who gave him strength.

We, too, can learn what it is to be content. Sometimes I do better than others! I am still learning. But I don't want to go through life always visualizing the grass being greener on the other side, than where I'm at; always wanting things I don't have. God makes us to lie down in green pastures at times, but there are also times when He prepares a table in the presence of our enemies. But in either situation, He is with us! And in all things, in all stages of life's journey, we can learn to be content.

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

Another popular saying is, "You don't know what you've got till it's gone." Sometimes, crossing over that fence to get to the greener grass is a one-way trip.

We were reminded of the story of the Prodigal Son recently. His decision to leave was very close to a one-way trip. He easily could have died while he was wandering and penniless. But he was able to go back home. His inheritance was gone, but his relationship with his father was still there.

No matter what happens, as long as we live, we can always go back to our Heavenly Father. It's important not to wait too late. If we stray, we have to make the trip back before we die. But don't worry, it's a very short trip. Just turn around.

ON THE MENEWE:

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Melt the butter into the oil in a large saucepan (soup pot) over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes translucent.

Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute. Add the half and half. Simmer until thickened.

Add the chicken broth. Simmer until thickened again.

Stir in all the seasonings, carrots, spinach, chicken and gnocchi. Simmer until the soup is heated through.

**You can use boneless chicken that you either boil or cook in the oven (then shred after it is tender), instead of the rotisserie chicken.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

My sister and I went to Maine last week to visit her son and his family. The night before we were to leave, his 7 year old daughter and I were having a conversation. She really didn't want me to leave the next day! She asked if I could stay just two days longer; that I could do laundry so I'd have clean clothes. I explained that we already had our tickets to fly home and we couldn't change them. So she asked if I could please come back next week. I told her that it cost too much money to fly, so I wasn't sure when I'd be able to come back for a visit; but I for sure would come see her again. She suggested that perhaps I could set up a lemonade stand to get the money to come back to see her. I told her that I'd have to sell a LOT of lemonade to pay for a plane ticket. She said, "Maybe 2 pounds (I think she may have meant gallons!) of lemonade would be enough?!" Well, I think it might take a whole lot more than that!!

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

You worry too much for someone whom God has never failed. - TobyMac

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org