When my boys came to me in pain, my first reaction was to pick them up and hold them. Faster than weeds in a garden they grew too big for me to physically lift them up and hold them.
We are left with the companionship that was built through those experiences, to guide how we tend to the pain of the present.
A Shepard much like a parent will carry a wounded Sheep until it is healed. Not only does the Shepherd Carry the sheep, but a good Shepherd provides everything for his sheep.
One of our families favorite things to do at the Iowa State Fair, is to see the blue-ribbon winners for largest livestock. The Ram, which is the male sheep. Weighed 452lbs. in August of 2019. The average weight is between 99lbs. and 350 lbs.!
I am a momma to a child that has Chronic Kidney Disease and while I carried him in many ways throughout his life. He is now 22 years old and I could not physically carry him every day, but that is what a good Shepherd does.
I am not sure if you have ever looked at the terrain that the Shepherd’s walk, but it’s not flat land. It’s the kind of place we lace up our good hiking shoes and prepare ourselves for.
A Good Shepherd would not have a bottle of water like we so easily have access to today. Yet, they still carried their wounded sheep to safety, water, and green pastures. Through this healing the sheep would learn to trust the Shepherd’s voice and count on his help in the wilderness.
It was in the words “carried” or “held” that I found where I become uncomfortable. We are often told that it is a sign of weakness to need help. Living with Chronic Illness I find I need help, more often than not. The more I push off the need to have help, the more I want to be picked up and held. The problem is that I begin to become weak. Pain may cloud my judgment and instead of looking for provision in my Shepherd. I look for it in people. Mainly my husband, but it often can be my kids or a friend.
I need to face it; I often hold someone in my life to my wants before I look to my Shepard for my needs. The worst part is I wait too long. What began as a need for a glass of water, is now muscle weakness, pain and emotional issues? My poor husband and kids.
Children that need help will only ask if they learn it is ok to do so. My actions do not show them that I value who the Shepherd created me to be. If I can not see that I need other Sheep then who will teach them.
The Lord God said, “it is not good for the man to be alone; I will make a “helper” suitable for him. – Genesis 2:18
In this scripture he is talking about “females”, but don’t miss another important point. We were not meant to be alone. We would need each other for help.
It gives me comfort that our Shepherd calls himself our helper.
“The Lord is with me; he is my helper.” – Psalm 118:7
What other names do we know to call our Shepherd? Provider- Philippians 4:19, Shield – Psalm 91:4, Counselor – Isaiah 9:6 To name a few can you find more?
God made me in his own image. “So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:27
“Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,”- Genesis 1:26
The “us” and “our” is the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit = The Trinity. We were made in the Good Shepherd’s image the image of the Trinity.
That means that I can call on him in my thoughts. In my prayers and through other Sheep.
He created us to have our needs met by him. We were made to be held by him. Like my child that I can no longer physically carry in my arms, I still carry him in my heart. I am his parent and his needs and even his wants are important to me. I still want him to come to me when he is in pain.
The Shepherd is listening to my needs and my wants are important to him.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7
With the sacrifice at the Cross the Good Shepherd has laid down his life for his sheep.
By resting in his word, I am crawling into my Shepherd’s lap to show my endearment.
The Peace I carry Down , May be the seed that helps my child crawl up to whisper in his ear.
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