May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today, and always...

A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't
want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that
he had some independence but yet know that he was safe. So she had an idea
of how to handle it.

She asked a neighbor, Mrs. Goodnest, if she would please follow him to
school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't
notice her. Mrs. Goodnest said that since she was up early with her toddler
anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so
she agreed.

The next school day, Mrs. Goodnest and her little girl, Marcy, set out
following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor boy he
knew. She did this for the whole week. As the boys walked and chatted,
kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the lady was
following them as she seemed to do every day all week.

Finally he said to Timmy, "Have you noticed that lady following us to
school all week? Do you know her?"

Timmy nonchalantly replied, "Yeah, I know who she is." The friend said,
"Well, who is she?"

"That's just Shirley Goodnest" Timmy replied, "and her daughter Marcy."
"Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us?"

"Well", Timmy explained, "every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm
with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it
says 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life,'
so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!"

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give
you peace.

May "Shirley Goodnest" and "Marcy" be with you today, and always.