Feed My Lambs

As we pulled down an alley on the waterfront of the old historic town of Oamaru, New Zealand, we saw a wool warehouse. Inside was a man sorting the wool into various piles. It looked like it would make for a great picture, so we swung around to the front entrance of the warehouse and I dragged Tyler along as a prop. Once inside the small warehouse, I again saw the gentleman, so I thought that I would ask him a few questions about his trade. He told me that he sorted the different grades of wool into 60 different piles and that his role in the whole process was only a minor bit. Before long, I asked him a question: "I’m not sure if you are aware of the biblical account or not about Jesus telling Peter to feed his lambs and his sheep, but what is the difference between lambs and sheep?" "Lambs are nine months old and younger; sheep are older than nine months old," replied the man. Suddenly, I had a newfound appreciation for Jesus’ telling Peter first to feed his lambs, then to tend his sheep, and finally to feed his sheep. We chatted for a few more minutes before I exchanged Tyler for Amy as my new prop. We went on our way, no longer confused about the difference between a lamb and a sheep. And then Tyler made sure that we would never forget by saying, "Now it makes sense: ‘Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, not Mary had a little sheep, little sheep!"