Good morning…
“Ba-ba. Ba-ba,” repeated our two year old neighbor as she came to visit our herd of guest sheep. Hosting ten sheep for about two weeks will be a really fun adventure. So far, the most intriguing thing has been to watch the nurturing qualities the flock has drawn out of our two dogs. Tate and Gracie have loved peacefully resting beside these ivy-eating creatures. The photos we have snapped are priceless.
Observing this natural instinct to bond and be with, I wonder if we would all benefit from being a little more sheepish. This humble adjective means pertaining to or resembling a sheep. Meek. Modest. Docile. Simple. Tame. Mirroring these characteristics, might we draw out nurturing qualities in one another? The antonyms for sheepish seem to wreak havoc. Bold. Aggressive. Forcing one’s own way.
Like our dogs to these sheep, we have a constant Friend who values bonding and being with, putting on skin to rest alongside us, fully human, fully God, and living, breathing Spirit. He guided His people like sheep to safety and led them like a flock into the desert to freedom; He took them on a safe route so that they would not be afraid (Psalm 78:52-53a, VOICE). Today will we simply choose to follow the lead of our good Shepherd or will we choose to wreak havoc, boldly and aggressively forcing our own way?
Although we are all very different animals, how freeing it is to be sheepishly guided by God, safe and unafraid.
…Sue…
