Articles
Silly Sheep
On a cold day in winter, Joe was sliding on a frozen pond when the ice broke. Luckily he
was able to get out of the water and crawl to safety. He went home in his wet clothes almost
frozen. His aunt asked him why he was sliding on the ice. “Because all the other boys did”, he
answered. She gave him dry clothes and something warm to drink. Then she told him a story.
“When I was a little girl, Joe, my father had a great flock of sheep. One day a big ram
jumped through a gap in the fence. He was followed by the other sheep. When the ram tumbled
into the bottom of an old well where Father used to throw rubbish, the next sheep never stopped
to see what had become of him. He jumped in right after the ram and so did the next one, and the
next. The sheep kept jumping into the well until it was full. Then father pulled them out as best
he could. The sheep at the bottom of the well were almost smothered to death”.
“What silly sheep!” exclaimed Joe. Then suddenly a look of discernment came over his
face, and he smiled at his aunt. He had gotten the point of the story. If we simply follow others
without watching where we are going, we may land in trouble. The Bible has timeless wisdom
on this subject.
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the
path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His
law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which
yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers”
(Psalms 1:1-3).
“My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, for their feet
run to evil and they hasten to shed blood” (Pr. 1:15-16).
~ Joel Stephen Williams, Logansport, IN;
Lifelines Arthur church of Christ, Arthur, IL
