Reflections of a sheep

Isn't it amazing how small things become so dear to you? Things like hugs from your brother or sister, flowers, a lift home from a friend, the moment you realize a baby is growing up, a phone call from a dear friend that lives far away, assignments that you put your heart and soul into so that you feel lost after you've handed them in, a favourite book you rediscover, colours bursting through everything around you, homemade cooking, birds singing, music...

Beautiful things. Simple things. Cherished things. Things I take for granted.

Yesterday I handed in two large assignments, one of them I'd been working on for the past month or so. I awakened this morning to what felt like a whole new world, a world where I can have conversations that last more than 2 minutes with my little brother, have coffee with my mother and sister, take the time to let my older brother know that I miss him, show my parents how much I love them through simple tasks... It's a beautiful world again!

University is great, I enjoy learning so much about the world of music, and I'm grateful for all the opportunities it brings, but it has stretched me these past few weeks. I caved into my perfectionist attitude, panicked over each assignment, agonized over my (lack-of) practice, and tried to give the impression I was in control. I wasn't. It was only when I admitted that to myself that I found comfort. God is in control, His outlook is much larger than my own, and no matter how big these assignments appeared to me, they were not to Him. Once I realized that, I tried to live each day for Him, not my assignments, for assignments come and go, but God is forever with me!

So now I find myself in a blissful state of contentment, happy to rediscover the comforts of life. But it is just as easy to give precedence towards bodily comfort instead of to serving God and obeying His Word! How fragile, how insecure, how incredibly sheep-like we humans truly are! If only we would trustingly follow the Good Shepherd wherever He leads us, we would take the time to enjoy the blessings He gives us along the way instead of fretting over little things like university assignments we turn our attention to. This little sheep has a lot to learn still!