GPiper
June 27th 2003, 09:06 AM
Some time ago I wrote a short story titled “Founder, Tale of a Lost Sheep” I’d like to reprint one paragraph because it describes a very important process of life. In this part of the story an aging father is talking to his young son about becoming a shepherd.
"Most people," he started, "think that sheep are one of the stupidest animals God ever put on the earth. Just because an animal must depend upon someone else does not make them stupid. If that were the case we humans could also be called stupid because we depend upon God. Always remember my son, a sheep is only as stupid or as smart as the shepherd they follow. Once I heard the Messiah make a comparison between himself and people as a shepherd is to his sheep. To be a good shepherd you must make your flock more valuable than yourself. You must see your sheep as ultimate worth and you must give your life for them whether through sacrifice of time or death. Value is based on what you put in things not what you take out."
Bend down and give each a hug and rub your hands through their wool like this," he said as he probed his fingers deep into the wool of the first one. "That way when they smell you they will smell their own scent as well as yours. The blending of the two scents creates a unique scent only the sheep knows. It's the way you become one to them and they will know they belong to you.”
As the sheep began going through the gate the old shepherd got down on his knees and bushed the coat of each one and tend to any sore spots. As he attended each one he would give them a kiss on the nose before they entered the gate.
"Father," young Josiah began, "Why do you kiss the sheep? I heard some men in the village laughing and talking about you loving your sheep so much that you kiss each one. Please don't ask me to kiss them, I don't want people laughing at me."
Holding back his tears because having experienced the same ridicule he could see the fear and disappointment in Josiah's eyes. Zechariah stopped what he was doing looked his son in the eyes, "I too have heard them," the old man began. "You must never let what others say about you or to you destroy your inner peace and confidence in who you are. Remember, Josiah to God the Father you are of ultimate worth and no one but no one can ever take that away from you."
Long ago Jesus forever established your ultimate value, "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man will run when he sees a wolf coming and will leave the sheep, for they aren't his and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf leaps on them and scatters the flock. The hired man runs because he is hired and has no real concern for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd and know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep." {John 10:11 - 10:15 LVB}
Enjoy your ultimate worth,
Jesus died getting it for you!
gary
"Most people," he started, "think that sheep are one of the stupidest animals God ever put on the earth. Just because an animal must depend upon someone else does not make them stupid. If that were the case we humans could also be called stupid because we depend upon God. Always remember my son, a sheep is only as stupid or as smart as the shepherd they follow. Once I heard the Messiah make a comparison between himself and people as a shepherd is to his sheep. To be a good shepherd you must make your flock more valuable than yourself. You must see your sheep as ultimate worth and you must give your life for them whether through sacrifice of time or death. Value is based on what you put in things not what you take out."
Bend down and give each a hug and rub your hands through their wool like this," he said as he probed his fingers deep into the wool of the first one. "That way when they smell you they will smell their own scent as well as yours. The blending of the two scents creates a unique scent only the sheep knows. It's the way you become one to them and they will know they belong to you.”
As the sheep began going through the gate the old shepherd got down on his knees and bushed the coat of each one and tend to any sore spots. As he attended each one he would give them a kiss on the nose before they entered the gate.
"Father," young Josiah began, "Why do you kiss the sheep? I heard some men in the village laughing and talking about you loving your sheep so much that you kiss each one. Please don't ask me to kiss them, I don't want people laughing at me."
Holding back his tears because having experienced the same ridicule he could see the fear and disappointment in Josiah's eyes. Zechariah stopped what he was doing looked his son in the eyes, "I too have heard them," the old man began. "You must never let what others say about you or to you destroy your inner peace and confidence in who you are. Remember, Josiah to God the Father you are of ultimate worth and no one but no one can ever take that away from you."
Long ago Jesus forever established your ultimate value, "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man will run when he sees a wolf coming and will leave the sheep, for they aren't his and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf leaps on them and scatters the flock. The hired man runs because he is hired and has no real concern for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd and know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep." {John 10:11 - 10:15 LVB}
Enjoy your ultimate worth,
Jesus died getting it for you!
gary