The Wolves And The Wee Lambs

This story is a colorful illustration of the vulnerability of our little ones be they young in years or young in faith. I hope it is a warning as well as an encouragement to many.

* * * * *

     A minister traveled by train to Scotland for a holiday. He was acquainted with a sheepherder named Ned who offered to let him stay in the extra room in his cottage. When the minister's train arrived at the station the sheepherder was already standing there to meet him.

     Ned had a horse and wagon in which and they traveled several hours to the ranch. He did not offer any conversation and seemed to have something on his mind. The minister finally broke the uncomfortable silence and asked him what was bothering him.

     The old shepherd began to wipe tears from his face. "Last night I lost forty-six of my best lambs. The wolves got into the sheep pen."

     "I'm sorry to hear that, Ned, very sorry. It is a terrible loss.

     Ned sighed and his slumped shoulders heaved.  "The poor wee things!"

     "I hope not too many sheep were killed besides the lambs."

     The shepherd looked at him with unbelief. "No. Reverend, don't you know that a wolf will never take a sheep when he can get a lamb?"

     As they rolled along the minister thought the wolves were very much like the devil- he preys on the young and innocent who are without guile.

We must watch over and protect those little ones who Jesus loves.

Why you should be careful about little things in life.

This short story illustrates a powerful truth, so clearly stated in the title but colorfully described in the tale below. I hope you enjoy.

* * * *

WHY YOU SHOULD BE CAREFUL
ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE

Many years ago during the times of great hardship in Scotland two Scotchmen left their beloved country and sought their fortunes in the rich farmland of California.

The day before they left their home village in the highlands each considered what he would bring to America to remember their homeland by.  One went into the fields and gathered a thistle since it is the national emblem of Scotland. The other went to the meadows and brought back some honey bees in a jar. Together they traveled to America and made their way to California- each one treasuring their tokens of Scotland.

The thistle was planted in the garden of the one and the honey bees were given a hive on the farm of the other.

Years passed. The thistle plant became another, then another; they grew and multiplied until for miles around the fields became slowly infested with thistles. In frustration the farmers tried to get rid of them but could not. The thistles were a source of resentment that estranged the Scotsman from the community.

During the years the honey bees made one hive, then another and then more, so that with time the fields and woods near the home of the second Scotsman was filled with honey bees and sweet honey!

Neither one had any idea what the effect would be when they brought the little mementos from their homeland.  We must be careful for we do not know the effect the little things will be when allowed to take root in our lives.


(C) Adron Dozat

The Parable of the Seed

There was once an ancient city that was the pride of the land.  Since it had never been conquered the country’s rulers settled in this city and it became wealthy. Its security enabled the arts and sciences to flourish and it became the home of universities, libraries, and hospitals. Great thinkers, poets, musicians, artists, philosophers settled there and brought a prosperous golden age for that land and the lands around it. It appeared social advancement was about to take a leap forward.

The Wall: The Parable of the Seed

This was all possible because of the huge grey stone wall.  The massive wall wrapped around the city like a father's arms. No invader was ever able to knock it down, scale it, or undermine the mighty wall. Armies, would be conquered, and hordes would come; they would flail themselves against the great grey wall like a living sea, hammering it with battering rams and engines of warfare until exhausted they would melt away like the misty dew. High, broad, and strong the wall was a wonder of ancient times.

Unnoticed, a seed of a tree found its way into a little crack in that great grey wall of stone; a crack that was so small it could not be seen from ten feet away. The seed found enough soil in that crack and moisture to sprout. It was a harsh place for a seed to grow but it struggled on and lived. That seed sent its thread-thin roots into the rock and mortar seeking other cracks from which to draw nourishment. Some roots secrete an acid that dissolves rock and so its roots went deep.

Over the years the roots of this tiny seed worked their way through the wall, finding tiny cracks and weakening areas of the stone.

The tree went unnoticed because in the harsh sun of the day and cold wind of night the tree trunk and leaves were never bigger than a potted plant.  Those who did notice it gave it no thought since it was only a little stubble of a shrub on the surface of the wall. They made jokes about it. Time and again someone would reach up and take a hold of its tough woody branch and break it off but they never saw the roots. Undaunted, the roots lived, struggled on, and the scrawny branch would grow back.

General Alos-Chang-Sria

One day the army from the east came. It was the great hoard of Alos-Chang-Sria, Conqueror of Kings. The people in the city were complacent, confident that they have never fallen to an enemy they felt safe behind the mighty granite walls. General Alos-Chang-Sria knew he faced a challenge. His men had fought many hard battles and needed rest, but he needed to feed and pay his army, and sacking a city was a quick meal. If he didn't give victory his army would desert, or even turn on him >One of his captains brought a spyglass and they took turns studying the distant wall. Then he saw it, a little green smudge on the wall- the tree. At a distance, it was only a little green smear but being an experienced soldier he knew what it meant. He ordered catapults to target that one mark of green, the little shrub of a tree.

They Saw The Green Smudge In The Wall.

The machines of war catapulted one and three-ton stones, which flew in a carefully planned arch through the sunny blue dawn and with precision pounded the wall. Even at a distance the general and his captains knew by the sound that they found their mark; they found the weak spot.

Before the sun was high the wall was holed, a hole big enough for men on horses to ride through, and the barbarian horde surged through the hole.
The city had forgotten warfare so the city was taken and its people slaughtered; the arts lost, and libraries burned, the science destroyed for the future generations to rediscover. The city was lost from memory and its name is forgotten, and a dark age of ignorance and despair settled across the land. All lost because a little seed went unchecked in the wall.

Let’s beware of the little seeds in our lives, little things that are slowly taking root and working it’s way through to weaken and destroy. Some we don’t recognize, others we see and know its serious but we joke about it or think it is no big deal. Remember the little seed lest you too fall.

Illustration to not let sin take root. Romans 6:23, James 1:14-15,

(C) Adron Dozat 11/26/10

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE WEEKLY PRINTABLES?

If you make a monthly pledge of only $3:50 a month, you will receive BIBLE TIME FUN WEEKLY, a children's activity printable bulletin every week. You will receive additional material available only to patrons, as well as an editable Word Doc. It has pages of puzzles, coloring pictures, and games for the kids.  You can share it with the kids in your church, Awana Bible club, class, camp, VBS, Backyard Bible club, school, and home. Use the button below.

Become a Patron!

Thank You!