Supervisor - Sr. Michelle Reynolds M.M.
SHEEP THIEF
On Women's Day, Sr. Michelle, our School Supervisor, came to address the school during the Morning Assembly. She did not talk about women. She told us about how to leave the past behind. Here is here story.

1. STORY:

There once were two young men who lived in a small village. They were always in some kind of trouble, and it seemed that no one could help them change. One day, they decided to steal some sheep from one of the farmers, but they got caught! As a punishment, the people branded two letters on their foreheads --- ST. It named them as a "Sheep Thief".

One of the young men left the village. He could not face the people because everyone knew his crime. For many years he wandered. He tried to improve his life. He grew his hair to cover the letters. Sometimes he would succeed. But, no matter where he went, someone would see the ST and ask what happened? What was the meaning of ST? And again, he would leave, run away. Because he just couldn't face his sin, his crime. He had a very unhappy life, never able to get close to people; always afraid people would discover his past.

The other man did just the opposite. He accepted his punishment. "I sinned, I am a Sheep Thief. Everyone knows it. Running away won't help. But, maybe I can make up for the wrongs I have done." He began to make amends. Those he had hurt in the past, he went out of his way to help them. He began to work with the youth in the village, to teach them how to be good and make right choices. Over the years, the people in the village grew to admire him for his kindness and generosity. Even though the ST could still be seen on his forehead, they no longer noticed it, and even forgot what it meant.

One day, a stranger came to their village. He noticed this older man that everyone liked and treated with respect. But he was puzzled by the letters on his forehead and so he asked one of the villagers. The person stopped and thought for a while, and finally answered, "I think it means he is a Saint, because he is so good and respected by all!"

2. APPLICATION:

All of us will fail at times and sometimes making wrong choices. But, it is what we do regarding our failures that will determine what kind of person we become. If we refuse to admit our weaknesses, and run away from our punishments, we will never have peace. But, if we accept our failures and work to change them, like the young man in the story, we can change the failure into a blessing and become a "Saint". The choice is ours

3. PRAYER:

Let¡¦s turn to Hosanna pg. 25, Prayer #43 Prayer For Self Discipline

Sr. Michelle, School Supervisor
March 8, 2010.