Shirley Goodnest
A mum was concerned about her kindergarten son, Timmy, walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.
She had an idea how to handle it. She asked a neighbour if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her. The neighbour said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.
All week, the neighbour and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another girl he knew. On the Friday, as the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed that the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day. Finally she said to Timmy "Have you noticed that lady has been following us to school all week? Do you know her?" Timmy nonchalantly replied "Yes, I know who she is. That's Shirley Goodnest and her daughter Marcy".
"Shirley Goodnest? Who in the world is she and why is she following us?" said Timmy's friend. "Well" Timmy explained, "every night my mum makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, "cos she worries about me so much, and in the Psalm it says 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the says of my life' so I'd better get used to it"