Lost Sheep

So He told them a parable, " what man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbours together, saying to them, 'rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep!' I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting than over the 99 righteous people who don't need repentance. Luke 15:2-6

In Australia farmers have large numbers of sheep and invariably one is lost because it wandered, was caught by wild dogs, burned in a fire, drowned in a flood or died of thirst. The picture is not quite the same.

As children my brothers and sisters had the pleasure of been given a lamb. As it grew it became a menace eating mums flowers and bunting us kids. Barbie, as it was called was finally given away.

Some years ago I lived in a part of town where all the neighbours, us included had a few acres of land. Most plots did not have fences or I they had them they were inadequate. We had two Rottweilers and two teenagers. The teenagers had a small motor bike and would open the gates and drive round and round and not shut the gates at night. The dogs would wander and one of the landowners had a sheep which our dogs thought they would play with, they almost ripped off the animals ear. The sheep became fly blown and needed medical attention. I had to go daily and give the sheep and injection.

You might say I have come to regard sheep as very simple and rather stupid. To try and relate to the shepherd I would have to liken the story to losing another pet, one of my dogs Emma, in a storm when I was living in Chatswood Sydney for a time.

I was at work and there was a violent electrical storm. I knew Emma was frightened in storms so I went home to check on her an she was gone.

I was not prepared to lose my dog so I went to The Lord in prayer and asked for her return. Two days later I received a phone call from a woman telling me my dogs wandered into her yard looking lost and hungry and could I come. I went in haste, taking my other dog Chelsie with me.

Emma was so pleased to be found and the funny thing was that Chelsie chastised her severely. It was so funny to see. I was so grateful I went home and called my housemate to celebrate.

Likewise I am grateful my Lord loves His sheep and does not give up on us. He is so good!