SHEPHERD and LAMB

Author: Nancy Hines, serves as director of nursery/preschool/morning playschool

 

Born in Indiana, where I was raised, my parents set a good example of servant hood. My mother was a primary director for more than 25 years, and my father was a deacon in church for more than 35 years. And there, the foundation of my faith and my longing to be a servant of Christ began.

 

My father, a mortician, gave me a healthy view of death and eternal life through JESUS. At nine years old, one of my very best little friends died of Leukemia. Though I had seen and even played around caskets, I had never seen one with a lamb on it, as Jana's had. I asked daddy why, and he explain that GOD was our Shepherd and we are HIS sheep, but it is our choice to hear HIM. I wanted to hear HIM. I wanted to know HIM. I accepted CHRIST as my SAVIOR just a few days after Jana's funeral, and later surrendered to HIM as my LORD at 22 years old in a hospital crying out to GOD for the life of my second child. At this time, we had already lost one child and did not think I could bear losing another. Something happened in my prayer, crying out to the LORD. I knew that HE would carry me when I am weak, walk with me when I am lonely, and I wanted HIM there. HE had become my MASTER and LORD of my life.

 

I have made the choice to serve CHRIST, knowing I will stand accountable and knowing that HE loved me when it didn't feel as though anyone else did. Married at 19 years old, my husband, Chris, and I have kept GOD seated on the throne of our marriage. We have lost a child, given birth to two other sons, parented 16 foster children, adopting five, parented special care children, lost everything thing we owned in hurricane Hugo, faced unemployment a total of about 4 years and have been caregivers to my parents and sibling-- baring responsibility for literal life and death decisions.  Thank you, perfect SHEPHERD, for rescuing me from the bramble and wolves of this world, and for making YOUR SON the perfect LAMB, sacrificed for our sins.