I read something a couple of weeks ago that I have never known before and I can’t stop thinking about. I have shared this with many people including our youth and most recently our church body. Many of us have heard stories about a Shepherd’s love for their sheep and how important it was for a Shepherd to protect their flock no matter what. The Shepherd’s duty was to make sure the sheep wasn’t lost and was expected to even lay down their life for their sheep if duty called.
One way a Shepherd would guide their sheep is by using a staff to bring the sheep back. However, if a certain sheep kept on wondering, the Shepherd would use the staff and break the sheep’s leg. Now, you may think to yourself, that isn’t very loving, but hold on a second. I’m sure it wouldn’t take much to break a sheep’s leg and think of all the bones you may have broken that have completely healed. The Shepherd would tenderly set the broken leg and then would carry the sheep over their shoulder until the leg of the sheep was healed. During this time, there would be a bonding process that would happen between the sheep and the Shepherd. The sheep would think twice about wondering away from the Shepherd again because the sheep wouldn’t want to distance itself from a loving Shepherd. If a sheep would wander from the Shepherd it ran the risk of getting lost or being killed, so in reality even though the Shepherd’s action seemed unloving at first, it was done out of kindness and love.
Right now, maybe you’re questioning the goodness of the Shepherd and God may have even broken your leg. I am realizing that God breaks a leg, so to speak, always for a reason and not out of cruelness, but with a deeper purpose. Some of the most intimate times I have ever had with God have been when God has carried me. You may wander at times, but a loving Shepherd will bring you back, not in the easiest way, but the best way. Don’t forget to enjoy the bonding process in your own life today with the Shepherd.
