Some people are being followed by Shirley and Marcy Goodnest. Are you one of them?

A mother was concerned about her young son’s safety while walking to school, however he did not want the embarrassment of his mother accompanying him. She, wanting to give him some independence, yet know that he was protected, came upon a plan. A neighbor who daily walked with her toddler, offered to follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so as not to be conspicuous. She did this for an entire week.

As the young boy, Timmy, walked and chatted with a school mate, kicking stones and twigs, his friend did notice that the same lady was following them every day. Finally he said to Timmy, “Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?”

Timmy nonchalantly replied, “Yeah, I know. That’s just Shirley Goodnest, and her little girl Marcy.”

“Shirley Goodnest? Who is she and why is she following us?” asked Timmy’s friend.

“Well,” Timmy explained, “every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, ‘cuz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it says, ‘Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life’, so I guess I’ll just have to get used to it!”

May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy follow you all the days of your life, and in case you don’t remember the 23rd Psalm, here it is:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

(Received from the Internet without attribution. Thanks Martha.)