Daily Reflection

“Feed my sheep.” (John 21:16)

For the longest time I never quite understood what Christ meant exactly when he spoke to Peter and said, “Feed my sheep”. At first, I really believed it meant I was supposed to help people become Christians by talking about the Bible and giving them some sort of Biblical testimony about the love for God. But this never worked for me for several reasons.

For starters, I believe there are many paths to God, following the love of Christ is just one of them. Secondly, I don’t label myself a Christian because that’s a man-made term. I simply follow the teachings of Christ and choose not to label it any further. And lastly, I’m not a religious type of guy who feels a calling to do missionary work where conversion to a type of faith is at its core. This is precisely why I struggled immensely each time I read that passage in the Bible where Christ told Peter to “Feed my sheep”. But, could it mean more than what I once thought? Only recently did I come to a deeper understanding with this.

Maybe Christ was simply talking about loving his children through the gifts we are each blessed with? Maybe we all are meant to feed Christ’s sheep in our own unique ways? In my case, maybe I’m doing just that in all the passion I put into my 12 Step recovery work, especially when I do any of my speaking engagements where I share my testimony of addiction to recovery? And maybe each time I work with anyone in my recovery work in general, whether that’s with an individual or in front of a group, passing on my own message of understanding, hope, and love, is feeding God’s sheep?

As I pondered this, maybe doctors are already feeding God’s sheep when they work to help improve the health of their patients? Maybe musicians do the same each time they sing or play their instrument to their hearts content in front of an audience? And maybe gardeners beautifying nature at another’s home, therapists working to help improve their client’s mental and emotional health, chefs preparing tasty culinary cuisine for another, etc., each feed God’s sheep each time they utilize their gifts with love in their heart.

So, maybe all Christ meant when he said to Peter to “Feed my sheep” was simply to just follow whatever our passion is in this world and offer it to others with unconditional love in our hearts, as isn’t that at the core of all of Christ’s teachings? Regardless, this is the very basis of why I continue to follow Him and do my best each day to feed God’s sheep in the unique ways He blessed me with.

Dear God, please help me to always use whatever gifts You’ve given me to do my part in feeding your sheep.

Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson

Silly Joke Friday

Silly Joke #1

Fellow 1 : “Now my grandfather, he knew the exact day of the year that he was going to die. And it ended up being the right year too. Not only that, but he also knew what time he would die that day as well, and he ended being right about that too.” 
Fellow 2 : “Wow, that’s Incredible. How did he know all that? Was he psychic or something?” 
Fellow 1 : “Naw, his judge told him.”

Silly Joke #2

A blonde goes to the post office to buy stamps for her Christmas cards to all her friends and loved ones. She says to the clerk, “May I have 50 Christmas stamps?” The clerk says, “What denomination?” The woman says, “God help us. Has it come to this? Ok, give me 6 Catholic, 12 Presbyterian, 10 Lutheran and 22 Baptists.”

Silly Joke #3

Two very negative businessmen in Florida were sitting down for a break in their soon-to-be new store. One of them, suddenly says to the other, ‘You know what I can’t stand?” “What’s that?” His business partner responded, “That we’re always getting interrupted by someone looking in our store window, then pounding on our door and asking what type of store this is.” “I agree!” No sooner were the words out of his mouth when, sure enough, a curious senior citizen walked up to the window, took a peek, and then pounded on the door. When the irritated business partner opened it, the individual asked, “So, what are you selling here?” The businessman who had just brought this up answered sarcastically, “We’re selling assh*les buddy…” while his business partner laughed cynically. The senior citizen responded, “Well from the looks of it, it’s a success, as there’s only two left!!!”

Bonus Silly Joke

A physician had just finished up a successful colonoscopy where there were no negative findings and was now meeting with the patient post-procedure letting him know. 
Physician: “So, all is looking great! Do you have any more questions for me?” 
Patient: “Just one Doctor, is there any way you could you write a note for my wife?” 
Physician: “What ever for?” 
Patient: “I need you to tell her that my head really isn’t up there ok?”

Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson

Question For The Day

Today’s question is…

What is the best way someone you are dating, partnered with, or married to can show you that you truly matter to them?

Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson


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