Snowy had never forgotten the time he got lost and the Shepherd found him and brought him home. But even if there was a chance of him forgetting his mother made sure that he didn’t.

“Snowy,” she said one day, “come with me there’s someone I want you to meet.”

Snowy followed obediently in his mother’s steps. Who could it be that she wanted him to meet? Snowy knew everyone in the flock already and he was sure no new lambs had arrived. The walk was a long one and Snowy began to feel tired and irritable. His mother seemed to be taking him far away from the flock to a part of the fields he had never    visited before. Suddenly they stopped.

“What’s this?” A puzzled Snowy asked for suddenly their path was barred and they could go no further.

“This Snowy, is a fence.” his mother replied.

“A fence, what a nerve,” said Snowy angrily, “wait till the Shepherd sees this!”

“Be quiet you silly,” answered his mother laughing, “the Shepherd knows all about it.”

 “Then why doesn’t he pull it down?” He didn’t much like this fence.

“Because the land on the other side belongs to someone else and so do the sheep who live there.”

Snowy was amazed, he had never thought that there were other flocks of sheep in the world.

“Do you mean there are other shepherds beside ours?” He couldn’t hide his surprise. His mother laughed again but Snowy suddenly felt very small in a big world. There was so much he still didn’t understand

“Of course there are other shepherds,” said his mother   gently, “but not one of them is like ours.”

Snowy wanted to ask his mother what she meant, but before he got the chance she said, “Look Snowy, here comes   someone I want you to meet.”

Snowy looked and looked. He knew it was rude to stare but he just could not believe his eyes. A sheep was approaching the fence from the other side, but unlike any sheep Snowy had ever seen before. For one thing it was thinner than

any sheep in the Shepherd’s flock.  It’s coat was matted with filth and it’s eyes ran. As it approached the fence it saw Snowy’s mother and moved towards them.

“Hello,” said Snowy’s mother softly, “where’s your lamb today?”

The thin sheep didn’t answer didn’t answer at first but when she did her voice was low and cracked. “Lost.”

“Don’t worry”, said Snowy cheerfully sensing the newcomer’s sadness, “I was lost once and the Shepherd found me and brought me safely home. I’m sure your shepherd will find your lamb too.”

The other sheep gave a short, sharp snort.

Snowy wondered what he had said to upset her.

“Our shepherd won’t go looking for my lamb. He’s just a hireling, he won’t bother because it’s too much trouble and he’s afraid of the wild animals in the hills.”

Snowy shuddered. He didn’t dare think what might have happened to him if the Shepherd had left him alone.

“Doesn’t he care what happens to you?” he asked.  

 He couldn’t stop thinking about the poor lost lamb alone in the hills lamb without a shepherd to care for him.

The thin sheep laughed. It was not a pleasant sound and Snowy edged closer to his mother’s side.

“Look at me.”, said the thin sheep, “Does it look as if any shepherd cares for me?”

Snowy shook his head slowly.

“Your fields are rich and green but ours are sickly and covered with poisonous weeds. Your shepherd toils hard to break up the dry ground and remove the rocks and weeds. He makes sure you have fresh water to drink while ours is muddy and polluted.”

“Our Shepherd does all that?”

Snowy was amazed. He thought the whole world was like his fields, lush and green. Now he realized that his Shepherd must have shed sweat and blood so he and the flock could live in comfort.

“More,” continued the thin sheep, “He anoints you with oil to keep away troublesome insects. We must suffer. In winter your shepherd provides you with shelter from the storm and from the cold, biting blizzards while we freeze and   perish in the cold. Does that answer your question little one?”

Snowy just nodded his head. There was nothing to say. In the distance vultures wheeled and circled in the sky. Snowy thoughts strayed to the lost lamb. He shivered.

“Can we go home now Mother?” he asked.

That night, even though he was warm and safe in the Sheepfold, Snowy couldn’t sleep. He kept thinking about the thin sheep he had met today and her little lamb alone in the hills.

“What’s a hireling?” He whispered to his mother in the dark.

“Someone the owner pays to look after the sheep for him.” said his mother quietly.

“Then the sheep don’t really belong to him so he doesn’t care what happens to them?” 

“That’s right Snowy.” replied his mother. “We belong to the Shepherd because He loves us and gave everything he had to buy us.”

“Why did he choose us?” asked Snowy.

“I don’t know,” answered his mother knowing Snowy was thinking about all those poor sheep outside the Shepherd’s care, and one little lamb in particular. “but one thing I do know, he loves all the sheep in all the flocks in all the world and one day he will pay the price to own them all.”

Snowy closed his eyes. He knew better than anyone that his mother was always right.

***************************************************************

For the Seven Oaks friends, there is always something to do. Whether they’re singing along with Pokey Porcupine’s harmonica or playing soccer with Jumper Rabbit, everyone is having fun and learning all sorts of things. These seven stories show how practicing the 7 Habits makes this possible for the whole Seven Oaks Community.

From learning how to take charge of their own lives to discovering how balance is best, the Seven Oaks friends have tons of adventures and find out how each and every kid can be a happy kid!