Feed My Sheep

[33:30] Because my heroes are George Washington Carver—the little slave boy who became this great, great man, scientist.

I remember he asked Mrs. Carver—I believe it was Mrs. Carver—"What made these flowers blue?" Because he grew flowers. And she said she didn't know. And he just said, "I'll ask God."

Then when he went back to Tuskegee—after he had gone to Washington to cook the bread, to show the flour that he made out of potatoes, and had to go to the back door—you just were so mad about that.

Then he came back and went to Tuskegee when he probably could have gone anywhere to teach. He knew so much. And he said he was going to help the man furthest down.

Well, that's why I went into special education—because they needed help. Because if they're in a regular classroom, no teacher can, with four or five—no teacher can take them individually and tutor them enough to get them anywhere.

So I just think that I liked that idea of helping the person furthest down.

[38:00] Mrs. Blanche Woodward was here and she had a big hands on her shin, and she was dying. And her favorite scripture—she sat at my table—and her favorite scripture was:

"So do not fear, for I am with you. Be not dismayed—or discouraged or negative—do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

So there's four things in one little verse, and one little chapter of the Bible that's got so much:

• He's with us
• He's our God
• He'll strengthen us
• When he upholds you with his right hand—that's just about anything that you need

[36:30] And here's what they said something about—"feed my sheep"—when we were talking about us getting this award.

You know, you'd say, "Lord, what should I do today?" And you know, just a thought came through my mind: "Feed my sheep."

And you thought about Peter. The Lord asked Peter three times—"What do you want me to do?" And he said, "Feed my sheep." "Do you love me? Feed my sheep." Three times.

And I said it must be important. So I just thought that was the Lord wanting us to feed his sheep. And we tried. And you don't try just physical—you try to give them the spiritual food.