Timmy was a little five-year-old boy whose Mom loved very much. Being a worrier, she was concerned about his walking to school when he started Kindergarten. She walked with him the first few days, but he came home one day telling her he did not want her walking him to school every day. He wanted to be like “big boys.” He protested so loudly that she had to find another way to handle it.
She asked her neighbour Nancy if she would surreptitiously follow her son to school at a distance, but close enough to keep a watch on him. Nancy said that, since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise so she agreed. The next school day, Nancy and her little girl set out behind Timmy as he walked to school with his friend Ronnie. This went on for a whole week. Timmy’s friend noticed that this same lady was following them every day. Finally, Ronnie asked Timmy, “Have you noticed that lady following us all week? Do you know her?”
Timmy nonchalantly replied, “Yeah, I know who she is.” Ronnie asked, “Well, who is she?”
“That’s just Shirley Goodnest an’ her little girl Marcy,” Timmy said.
Ronnie inquired further, “Well, why does she follow us every day like that?”
“Well,” Timmy explained, “every night Momma makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers cuz she worries about me so much. And in it, the prayer says, ‘Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life.’ So, I guess I’ll just have to get used to it.
Reflection
The Lord is My Shepherd (Psalm 23)
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in pastures green,
He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.
