Some of the Dumbo sheep have come to the meeting today with their pre-schoolers. We love to see them. It’s good to get them to the meetings when they’re young. I’m smiling as my Lily is leading them up to the front. they’ve learned a new song at school and they’re going to sing it for us.
“Bah bah black sheep, have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.”
I’m singing along with the rest of you; but I can only speak for myself. Until the day that she died, my Mom always thought I was her precious, pure, wooly white lamb. I could do no wrong. However, my eternal destiny was to become the proverbial “black sheep” of the family. That Lily is really something! She just ripped off her headphones and jumped right up out of her chair. “But” she yelled at the top of her lungs. Then she sat right down again, afraid that her outburst was a little over the top. “Yes, Love?”
” All of the lilies know and are assured, that God is a Partner in the difficult labor of every trial and makes all things that happen, in every way, shape and form. . .work together for the good of those He Loves. It is part of His Master Plan, written in its entirety before time. . .arriving at just the right time. Always promising His best for them. Always proving that He keeps His word. Plans to prosper them, not to harm them. Plans to give them hope and a future.”
There’s a story in the Old Testament about a black sheep who had three bags full of Wool. Very Special Wool. Priceless Wool. The patriarch Jacob had many sons, all of whom become the twelve tribes of Israel. He loved each son, but He had a favorite, his son Joseph. Jacob gave him a Gift. All of the chosen ones receive it.
“Now Jacob loved Joseph more than all of his other children, because he was the son given to him in his old age. And Jacob made Joseph a coat of wool, of many Beautiful colors.”
The little pre-schoolers have been very patient, waiting to finish their song. But now they are getting a little antsy and they’re starting to act out. It’s pretty typical for little lambs. . .losing their innocence and getting a little dirt on their coats. The mothering eagles at the meeting today are smiling. They remember when their little ones could do no wrong.
“One for the Master and one for the Dame, and one for the little boy who lives in the lane.”
Joseph wore a woolen coat of many colors. And it perfectly filled three bags full. Are you noticing the ears on the Dumbo sheep? They always fully open whenever they know that something good is coming. Sometimes they have flashbacks to that moment when they remember singing, “Somewhere over the Rainbow, blue birds fly. Birds fly over the Rainbow, why then oh why can’t I.” That was the first time, their jumbo-jet ears carried them into the many colors of heaven.
Look at Joseph’s new coat. Fresh apples from the Orchard. The Fruit of God’s Spirit. Ripe and ready for picking. A whole bag full for the one’s you love. Fruit to nourish them. Medicine to make them well. Full of Vitamins to make them Strong. Comfort Fruit when they are sad, or afraid. . .or depressed or anxious.
And there’s a full bag of Divine Hearts. The Love of God, the Father when He chose the sheep before time and authored each life in its entirety and taking on full responsibility for everything that needs to happen. The Love of God, the Son when He dyed his wool with the blackness of the coat of each sheep so they could be covered with His coat of many Colors. The Love of God, the Spirit in teaching the lilies and the Dumbos, all the eagles and the sailors. . .everything they will ever need to know about God and making God’s very Presence, real in their hearts. Now, I’ll let Lily tell you about the third bag. It’s filled with her precious things.
“It’s the necklace made of God’s favorite flowers, the Lily of the Valley and the Rose of Sharon. The fragrances of Life and Love. Together they make up the very personal scent of the crucified and risen Lord, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the flock.”
It’s apparent that the pre-schoolers have had enough for the day. Now He sends them forth like sheep and guides them in the wilderness like a flock. And He leads them on safely. They will fear no evil, because He is with them. He makes them lay down besides still waters. Each one has a new wool coat of many colors, completely covering their blackness. Always pure and white in their Father’s eyes. They can do no wrong.
Freely given. Freely Received. Free, Love
A Good Moment 