Daily text, Saturday, February 27. 2016

[Queen Esther]

You should know well the appearance of your flock.—Prov. 27:23.

Shepherds in ancient Israel led a rigorous life. They not only had to endure heat and cold but also had to protect their flocks from predators, both animal and human. Shepherds inspected the sheep regularly and treated any that were sick or injured. They gave special attention to the lambs because they were delicate and lacked the strength of full-grown sheep. (Gen. 33:13) In some respects, Christian parents are like shepherds, displaying qualities that are valuable to literal shepherds. A good shepherd carefully examines each sheep to make sure that it is healthy. In a figurative sense, you can do the same for your children. To do this, you need to consider your children’s actions and also their thoughts and feelings. How can you accomplish that? One of the best ways is to have frequent conversations with your children. w14 9/15 3:1-3