I used to think of it as an insult that Christians are compared to sheep; now after raising sheep for several years I’ve changed my mind (mostly because it’s true). Sheep and humans have a lot of similarities. For instance they are followers, if one sheep goes running they all go running. Kinda like people, aka peer pressure.
After having sheep for a while Psalm 23 makes a lot more sense. “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want”; God will provide if we trust Him. “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures”; He provides us with the best. “He leadeth me beside still waters”, sheep don’t like to drink from a moving stream, and God cares about a little thing like that. “He restoreth my soul”; He restores the brokenhearted and brings healing and peace. “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness FOR HIS NAMES SAKE”;(read that line again) need I say more? “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; they rod and they staff they comfort me”; no matter what, we do not walk alone! “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over”;… “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”With the Lord as my shepherd what more could I want?!
Lambing has started for me and I’ve enjoyed looking out my window and watching the lambs, head butting, jumping, running and playing king of the mountain, (something I never tire of). I’ve learned a lot from my lambs this season.
Tenacity: My one ewe had twins and didn’t seem to want to let this one (pictured) nurse. Throughout the day I kept watching and since he seemed to be doing okay I let him go. I later found out that this little guy had figured out how to outsmart his mom!! He figured out that when his sibling was nursing he could sneak in and nurse from the back
if he tried to nurse from the side his mom could reach him and nose him away, she couldn’t reach him in the back. Of course this only worked when his sibling was nursing. He still nurses that way!
Lesson: For every problem there is a solution you might just have to get creative and try it from another angle!
Making the most of the time you have: This little guy only lived for one day but in that one day he caused more trouble than any other lamb! He got into hard spots and I was constantly having to pull him out, caught between cattle panels, in bramble bushes… He managed to get out of the pasture and somehow so did his mom, no clue how she managed that. It was supposed to get cold and rainy that night so I carried him into the barn. Unfortunately the next morning he was dead, however he had walked out of the barn. He may not have lived long but he created quite a stir in his short life.
Lesson: We all have a certain amount of time on this earth, some more than others, but whatever you do make it count.
Contentment: This lady is Rosie, she is the sheep version of a dog (she literally will paw you if you don’t pet her) definitely the most hilarious sheep I’ve ever met Sheep don’t need a lot to be happy they need food, water, salt and friends.
Lesson: contentment doesn’t come from stuff, it comes from a relationship with the Shepherd!
