Redemption

The vivid blue sky, backdrop to the soft white clouds, revealed that spring had broken another winter’s silence. The sun’s rays beamed down on the colorful array of wild flowers where he members of the woolly flock grazed on the lush green hillside.

The Good Shepherd smiled and his heart swelled with pride and adoration when he gazed at his beloved flock. He watched infant lambs breathe their first breath of life, so helpless; yet relentless in their struggle to stand only minutes after their birth as their wobbly, scrawny legs seemed to betray them.

In the shade and almost hidden in the tall green grass, he observed other infants feasting on their mother’s milk. He was aware of how secure and safe the little ones felt as their mothers provided the nourishment for their babies. His heart warmed and he said to himself, “This is good.”

Amidst the serene, were the toddlers and older youngsters. They playfully scuttled about on the grassy hillside. Sometimes the Good Shepherd threw back his head and laughed out loud when he observed these lambs do their childlike antics. He said to them, “I enjoy watching you have so much fun!”

The Good Shepherd looked over his flock, young and old and he saw deep inside each heart. He recognized each bleat and they knew his voice. He was so attuned to their individual behaviors. Some appeared strong in spirit while others were fragile. However, he knew they were vulnerable. To the Shepherd, they were all as lambs.

Dusk was near and it was time to lead his sheep back to the fold. “Watch me at all times!” he warned them. “You know this is the most dangerous time of the day. Wild animals will be hunting their prey and they love sheep.”

Once they arrived back at the fold, the Good Shepherd led his sheep to the gate where they would enter. One by one they passed through and he counted with precision. Fear, then terror gripped him. “I have lost one of my sheep!” he screamed. Horror-stricken, the flock stared at their Good Shepherd. “Sheep,” he told his flock, “I must go back! A precious lamb is lost and I will search until I find it! You remain inside the fold and keep the gate locked until I return.”

The Good Shepherd ran back to the hillside, yelling out to his lost sheep. In the distance, he heard a faint cry. He knew the bleat. This time, he called the sheep by name and as he grew closer, he could see the young ewe-sheep slumped in the grass. She had been crying. When he saw the fear in her eyes, he was moved with compassion. He bent down, stroked her head, and wiped the tears from her face with the sleeve of his cloak.

“My lamb, my precious lost lamb.” He cried, “I was so afraid I had lost you! What happened to you?” Her bleats were feeble.

He saw no outward wounds, but when he looked deep within her soul, he saw abrasions and bruises. Then he looked up and saw it lying on the ground a few feet from the injured sheep. The hollow sheepskin. Now he knew it was the work of a wolf. He knew their ways. While some were overt in their attacks, other were cunning and deceitful. The latter would disguise themselves as one of the sheep, stalk the prey to see who was most vulnerable, win the sheep’s trust, and then make the attack. Still looking at the sheepskin, he spoke words of anger.

The Good Shepherd looked into her eyes, her soul, and he breathed her name.                          
Tears fell from his face.
“I’m so sorry, my precious one. I love you.
You are safe now.”

With tenderness, he picked her up and placed her in his strong arms. As he carried her home, he gently sang a song to her, "I have found you, my precious sheep. You once were lost and now you are found!"