The FOUND Sheep

The Found Sheep

by Angie Knight
Picture by: Judy Gibson

When I saw the picture,  I immediately thought of the “lost sheep” of our lives. We all have lost sheep in our families. My mind instantly went to the three lost lambs that I hold nearest my heart in these days of prayer.

They were all raised on the same “farm”. Grazing in the same meadows, drinking from the same streams, the lambs rested together under the same cooling shades. But somehow, somewhere, during the growing season these three lambs strayed. They thought they saw a brighter meadow with cooler streams. The lambs, Tollie, Banimen and Boisk envisioned the grasses were richer, somehow greener. They had grown tired of being led where they needed to graze, they wanted to find their own way. They were in search of adventure. It was so near, they could almost smell it!

One morning, before the fog had completely lifted to reveal the day ahead, and before many of the others stirred from their place of rest, the three set out on their on. In search of more….

Their way led to a wilderness. That wilderness was filled with dangers. Their straying away left empty places that did not go unnoticed by the others.

The alarm was sounded! The fervent bleating of the mothers began almost simultaneously. The loud persistent bleating of the ewes reached the ears of the Shepherd. With their voices straining to be heard, they were crying out the agony of their hearts for the loss they were feeling. No longer did they feel their little lambs nearby. Their lives held an emptiness that they could not understand.

As soon as they saw their Shepherd coming toward them with his purposeful stride, their bodies ceased trembling. Their voices quieted. They grew calmer just from the sound of His soothing voice as He spoke in hushed tones of assurance. They felt peace. He had them to lie down. Near the large tree, where a nearby brook with its water tumbling over stones caused the temperature to drop noticeably around them. The change in atmosphere brought a sleepiness to their weary bodies. They rested.

Once the Shepherd saw that all the sheep were safe and their immediate needs were met, He started off for the rocky hillside nearby. His inner spirit told him he would find the missing sheep there. He saw tracks telling him that his count was correct, he was in search of 3 missing sheep. It was growing late in the evening. Clouds of a promised storm were gathering in the west. He had to find them before the slashing rains started. The hillside would be dangerous and slippery if he could not locate them before it rained.

And what about the adventure seeking sheep? Boisk, Banimen and Tollie. Different mothers, same family. Same training as the other sheep in the flock. They however, each had their own idea of what they wanted. They loved their families, even enjoyed the attention of the Shepherd, but felt compelled to follow neighboring sheep to the hillside for adventure. They felt that somehow there must be more to life than grazing, drinking, walking, resting, romping, and shearing. Surely, there must be something else.

When they started out on their little lark, they did not think past the noontime grazing. They weren’t even upset that their neighboring friends that had first suggested the adventure had not shown up. They didn’t think about rocks in the road that would embed themselves in their feet, nor did they consider the thorny bushes that would seem to leap out at them from nowhere.

It was, as a matter of fact, a very thorny bush that had trapped Tollie. The more she struggled, the deeper the thorns dug into her thick wool, even to reach down and bite into the skin. The blood oozed onto her white wool, staining it scarlet. Boisk and Banimen didn’t know what to do. They tried everything they could think of, but nothing worked. Then Banimen had a thought, maybe he and Boisk could chew at the base of the thorny bush, in the place just below where the thorns protruded.

They began chewing, each taking a turn. She had ceased struggling due to the weakening legs. She could hardly stand upright. Finally they had chewed enough that they were able to help her free herself. The thorny bush remained around her neck, digging in if she moved wrong, but at least she was able to walk.

Tollie was in pain as she had never experienced in her life. As she walked along she felt more encumbered than before they freed her from the bushes roots. They had nothing to offer for the pain she was in. Nothing except the hope that they might be discovered missing and maybe the Shepherd would come looking for them.

They continued their trek in the rocky hills of what seemed a faraway land from where they had begun this morning. But surely they couldn’t go home. They would be made fun of and they would be shunned by the others. No, they would have to continue on this way.

Nothing they saw looked inviting. Banimen began to notice the drop in temperature and the ominous clouds. In the distance they saw flashes of fire in the sky. He began to miss his mother. He thought of her soft voice. He was so far from what he remembered of the soft comfort of his mothers side.

Boisk went on ahead. He began to nibble on berries that he thought would quiet the desperate hunger he was feeling in his rather empty belly. Instead of conquering hunger though, he began to feel very sick. The sickness began to spread from not only his stomach, but to his heart and his head as well. He soon became too dizzy to stand. He swayed from side to side and finally fell over. Unable to right himself he began to weep. Calling for his father in his weak sick voice. His throat stung from the juice of the berries. He was tired and was now wishing with all his heart that he had never left. Would he ever see them again? Would they all perish out here on this hillside?

The rain came softly at first, as Banimen and Tollie struggled up the hill to be find Boisk. Soon the climb began to feel as if they were going nowhere. They began slip on the slimy clay as it soaked up the rain falling in sheets all around them. The whole hillside seemed to disappear in the heaviness of the clouds and rain. As Banimen slipped and fell, he seemed to tangle himself in the thorny bush still binding Tollie’s bleeding neck. Tollie did not have enough strength to stand under the pressure of the struggle caused by Banimen. She fell. Down the hill. Banimen close behind, falling too.

The rocks struck them from either side until they stopped at the edge of a cliff. They felt the sudden fear that gripped their hearts. If they moved forward at all, they would tumble to their death. Where was home? Where was their family? Were they warm and safe? Did they miss the stray sheep?

Suddenly the thunder grew louder. It seemed to shake the very rock they were clinging to. The thunder seemed so near. Almost under their ears which were pressed to the rock. The cuts from the rocks had gone deep into Banimen’s legs. He wondered where Boisk was. Had he reached the top? Would he come and search for them? Tollie was barely breathing. Was she near death? Thoughts tumbled around his head as the thunder that grew louder.

Tollie saw him first. She thought she was dreaming. The horse was shining white against the storm blackened sky. Sitting atop the horse was the Shepherd. His voice was soft and his arms were firm as he began to lift her to her feet. He carefully unwound the thorny bush from Banimen and then began to remove it from her neck. His fingers prodded gently her wool and skin in search of the gashes that were still bleeding. He quickly began to pour in a warm soothing ointment into the wounds. Then he wrapped her with a cloth so soft and fragrant, that she could sense his devotion.

He gently laid her across the back of the horse, along with Banimen. He spoke soft words in the ear of his horse and turned to climb up the steep hill in search of Boisk. His cries reached his ears long before his eyes were able to rest on him. Boisk thought he was dreaming. He thought the berries surely had taken his life and he was dreaming of heaven. But soon he felt his Master’s strong arms offering security and love. When Boisk opened his mouth to offer his weak sound of gratitude, the Shepherd poured in water. Water unlike he had ever tasted. This water was cool and sweet. It seemed to bring healing to his heart and stomach instantly. The gnawing pain left him. The dizziness was gone. His Master gently picked him up and carried him down the hill to the waiting horse.

When they arrived at the meadow, the Shepherd, horse and three lost sheep were greeted warmly by the waiting flock. They were all so happy to see them. Tollie had stains of scarlet from the blood on her wool mixed with the black mud of which she tumbled, but the Shepherd would soon bathe her and she would be clean again. The scars of Banimen and Tollie would soon heal, but their hearts forever hold the memory close as a reminder of the love and devotion of their Shepherd.

Up on the hillside, which now seemed a distant memory, Boisk had tasted a water so clear that his heart and life would eternally be changed. His eyes held a light filled with love for the Shepherd. His Master had left all the other sheep to search him out. Boisk felt a love so deep in his heart he couldn’t explain it. He couldn’t hold it in. He knew in his heart that he would never leave his Shepherd’s side again.

Luke 15:4-7
So Jesus used this illustration:
“If you had one hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it?
And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders.
When you arrived, you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found.
In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

Are you the lost sheep? Do you know how much your Father wants to bring you into His fold? Into safety and warmth? He loves us with an everlasting love. A love that knows no end.

Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

Father in heaven, you see and know each heart and life. I am praying for the lost sheep that are in each of our families. I ask that You keep your eye upon them, guide and direct their paths back to You. Into the folds of Your loving kindness. Help them to have opened eyes and clear vision to see and realize their need for a Savior. Their need for You. Show us how we can help them–with all the love that You offered to us, enable us to love and care for them, helping us to always remember to pray for them. I leave these needs in Your capable hands. In the holy name of Jesus I pray and believe~Amen.

Keeping the Faith,

Angie

© The Knightly News

Copyright protected 2007-2008. All rights reserved.

Used by permission from the archives of The Knightly News

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