S
SweetLambs
Guest
I thought that it would be nice to reflect on sheep and shepherds on this Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday, especially for those who do not have the priviledge of caring for a flock of their own.
*Amen, amen I say to you: He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber. [2] But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. [3] To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. [4] And when he hath let out his own sheep, he goeth before them: and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. [5] But a stranger they follow not, but fly from him, because they know not the voice of strangers. *
Sheep are prey animals, essentially completely defenseless against attack. They will become very bonded to their shepherds if they take the time to get them used to their presence. However, they are extremely cautious around strangers and will come to their shepherd when alarmed by man or beast.
Sheep are traditionally given names and can be trained to respond to their names being called, and will follow their shepherd as the leader. A sheepherder, in contrast, pushes the sheep from behind. They have a “flight zone”, personal space that when invaded, causes them to move to escape. They follow their shepherd because they trust. Sheep are not stupid, and can recognize faces of flock members as well as human beings, especially those that care for them and those who are cruel to them. Scientific studies have shown that they excel not only at this (they can recall faces years later), but that the emotions on the human face can be read quite plainly by sheep, and they prefer a smiling face to an angry one.
*6] This proverb Jesus spoke to them. But they understood not what he spoke to them. [7] Jesus therefore said to them again: Amen, amen I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. [8] All others, as many as have come, are thieves and robbers: and the sheep heard them not. [9] I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved: and he shall go in, and go out, and shall find pastures. [10] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly.
**11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. [12] But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth: and the wolf catcheth, and scattereth the sheep: [13] And the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling: and he hath no care for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me. [15] As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep. ***
This is, to me, the most beautiful passage in the entire Bible. A good shepherd does give his life for his sheep, especially in the figurative sense. It is a tremendous responsibility and truly beautiful but also heartbreaking. I cannot count the nights that I have spent fighting sleep, to watch over ewes about to lamb, or care for sick sheep. I have slept in the straw next to ewes in sub-zero temperatures and shared my bed with cold lambs at night. I have been sick with the flu and had to go outside in zero degree weather in short sleeves, arms wet up to the shoulders, delivering lambs that would otherwise die if no one was there to remove them from the womb in whatever malpresentation they were in. I’ve fought for their lives, helping vets at 3 AM with C-sections, or administering the kiss of life (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to get a newborn lamb’s heart beating and lungs working. I’ve been overjoyed when such lambs recover, when there is a healthy birth. I cry when I lose one. I’ve gotten up at all hours of the night to feed bottle lambs and put hot packs on the udders of ewes with mastitis. I’ve hauled hay in 100 degree weather and water in 12 below.
It’s a sacrifice of love and duty. There is no way to describe it otherwise. When I think of how much I love that lamb I’m bottle feeding, I can’t even imagine how much my Shepherd must have loved me to die for me.
When a dog runs into the pasture, my sheep run straight to me. When I hear coyotes howling at night, my sheep are uneasy and respond to my voice. If a coyote came into the pasture, I would do what I had to in order to save my flock, without a second thought.
Protecting the defenseless is a beautiful thing.
Isaias (Isaiah) 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather together the lambs with his arm, and shall take them up in his bosom, and he himself shall carry them that are with young.
*Amen, amen I say to you: He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber. [2] But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. [3] To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. [4] And when he hath let out his own sheep, he goeth before them: and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. [5] But a stranger they follow not, but fly from him, because they know not the voice of strangers. *
Sheep are prey animals, essentially completely defenseless against attack. They will become very bonded to their shepherds if they take the time to get them used to their presence. However, they are extremely cautious around strangers and will come to their shepherd when alarmed by man or beast.
Sheep are traditionally given names and can be trained to respond to their names being called, and will follow their shepherd as the leader. A sheepherder, in contrast, pushes the sheep from behind. They have a “flight zone”, personal space that when invaded, causes them to move to escape. They follow their shepherd because they trust. Sheep are not stupid, and can recognize faces of flock members as well as human beings, especially those that care for them and those who are cruel to them. Scientific studies have shown that they excel not only at this (they can recall faces years later), but that the emotions on the human face can be read quite plainly by sheep, and they prefer a smiling face to an angry one.
*6] This proverb Jesus spoke to them. But they understood not what he spoke to them. [7] Jesus therefore said to them again: Amen, amen I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. [8] All others, as many as have come, are thieves and robbers: and the sheep heard them not. [9] I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved: and he shall go in, and go out, and shall find pastures. [10] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly.
**11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. [12] But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth: and the wolf catcheth, and scattereth the sheep: [13] And the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling: and he hath no care for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me. [15] As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep. ***
This is, to me, the most beautiful passage in the entire Bible. A good shepherd does give his life for his sheep, especially in the figurative sense. It is a tremendous responsibility and truly beautiful but also heartbreaking. I cannot count the nights that I have spent fighting sleep, to watch over ewes about to lamb, or care for sick sheep. I have slept in the straw next to ewes in sub-zero temperatures and shared my bed with cold lambs at night. I have been sick with the flu and had to go outside in zero degree weather in short sleeves, arms wet up to the shoulders, delivering lambs that would otherwise die if no one was there to remove them from the womb in whatever malpresentation they were in. I’ve fought for their lives, helping vets at 3 AM with C-sections, or administering the kiss of life (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to get a newborn lamb’s heart beating and lungs working. I’ve been overjoyed when such lambs recover, when there is a healthy birth. I cry when I lose one. I’ve gotten up at all hours of the night to feed bottle lambs and put hot packs on the udders of ewes with mastitis. I’ve hauled hay in 100 degree weather and water in 12 below.
It’s a sacrifice of love and duty. There is no way to describe it otherwise. When I think of how much I love that lamb I’m bottle feeding, I can’t even imagine how much my Shepherd must have loved me to die for me.
When a dog runs into the pasture, my sheep run straight to me. When I hear coyotes howling at night, my sheep are uneasy and respond to my voice. If a coyote came into the pasture, I would do what I had to in order to save my flock, without a second thought.
Protecting the defenseless is a beautiful thing.
Isaias (Isaiah) 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather together the lambs with his arm, and shall take them up in his bosom, and he himself shall carry them that are with young.
