One Lost Sheep
I grazed, finding the grass was delicious. I followed the wonderful grass, occasionally looking back to make sure I wasn't too far behind. Suddenly, I turned and saw no one. None of my flock, no shepherd, no one. I started bleating nervously. I was alone. I was scared. I ran to try to find the others but got stuck in quicksand. I started thinking as I was bleating, There are 100 of us. Why should the shepherd leave the others to look for me, one who wandered away? I was still scared. I kept bleating, sinking lower and lower. Then, I heard a well- known voice say, "Well, it looks like you got in a mess, little Leah, didn't you?" The shepherd leaned down and lovingly pulled me out of the sand, put me on his shoulders, and carried me home. I knew then that he loved me even when I wandered.
When we returned, he put me with the other sheep, going to call his neighbors to celebrate with him because he had found me. The other sheep glared at me. "I'm back." I said softly.
"Oh, we know. We know." One of the older ewes spat.
"Why would you do something stupid like that?"
"Yeah! Wolves could have come and ate all of us while the shepherd was looking for you!"
"Don't you have any sense?" All the sheep bombarded me with angry remarks like that until I was too ashamed to raise my head. Another one of the older ewes stepped forward and told me, "Don't listen to anything they tell you." She turned to the others and harshly said, "You are acting like you've never wandered yourselves! I can recall several times when each of you has! Or, Rachel, don't you remember the time you fell into the pond and nearly drowned? Or, what about you, Rebekah? There was that time when you went off the path and got caught in the thorns. Or you, Sarah? Or Eve? Or Mary? Or Martha? Or any of you? I've wandered several times myself. We cannot blame Leah for wandering once when we've left ourselves." With that, the wise ewe turned and re- entered the crowd. They stopped condemning me and instead started grazing. I ate, too, and as I did, I made my way to the old ewe who had spoke kindly to me. "Thank you." I told her.
"You're welcome. They were being self- righteous brats anyway. Be careful. You will be forgiven for wandering, but you should not do it."
"I know. I won't." And I meant that, with all my heart. I knew the shepherd loved me and would love me no matter what.
Author's Note: I was inspired by the sermon at my church this morning. And, yes, I know, I know. Sheep probably aren't smart enough to talk like that. But, I wanted to make the 99 be like the older brother later in this chapter. And the review is from my mom, not me.
