Mary Had A Little Lamb

If you have children, know a child, or were once a child, you've probably heard this nursery rhyme, but in case you haven't, here are the words:

Mary had a little lamb,
little lamb,
little lamb.
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow.

Everywhere that Mary went,
Mary went,
Mary went.
Everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day,
school one day,
school one day.
It followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rules.

It made the children laugh and play,
laugh and play,
laugh and play.
It made the children laugh and play,
To see a lamb at school.

Now that I've given you the words, you may be wondering what would possess me to write about a nursery rhyme. Well, I'll tell you.

I was looking at a Nativity Scene the other day, and I was looking at the Mary figurine and the lambs that always seem to be a part of such scenes, and it came to me that the lambs that are part of the scene should not be, but the baby in the manger, is certainly The Lamb. The Lamb whose fleece was and is "white as snow."

Now I don't know for certain whether or not this nursery rhyme was composed for political or religious or health reasons the way that many are (see Ring o' Ring of Posies and Old Mother Hubbard)However, it came to me that it could have been, especially had it been written in the United States recently.

School age children are not allowed to take their religious beliefs to school in many circumstances, and it just makes me sick! They are told that they cannot pray, and many schools have stopped saying the Pledge of Allegience because it states "One Nation Under God"!

How many children would be that much happier if they didn't have to hide their beliefs, in the place where they are also to be learning values, along with Reading, Writing and Arithmetics? I think it would go well with all public schools if they could remember this other version of the same rhyme. Though the beliefs will be cast out of school, the beliefs should be allowed to linger, if only because we love "our Lamb" and He loves us back!

Mary had a little lamb its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go.
It followed her to school one day, which was against the rule;
It made the children laugh and play, to see a lamb at school.
And so the teacher turned it out, but still it lingered near,
And waited patiently about till Mary did appear.
"Why does the lamb love Mary so?" the eager children cry;
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know" the teacher did reply.
written by Sarah Hale, of Boston, in 1830.

Of course, that's just my opinion, but it certainly makes me think that the option of homeschooling looks so much more appealing. What is your opinion? Do you think that atheists should have more of a say in what our children are taught than believers in Our Savior do?

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 NKJV

but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:19 NKJV

Photo taken from Lamb Pictures, Smokey Valley Farm
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