Upon a hillside, covered with vibrant greens, lives a large flock of sheep. The gentle sheep spend their days roaming the hills. They frolick and make friends, spend time with family, laugh, joke, and generally enjoy life. The flock is always watched over by the Shephard. The Shephard cares for them, teaches, guides, and always tries to protect them from harm.
The Shephard's greatest duty is that of bringing little lambs into the flock from afar and entrusting them to new parents. It is the greatest honor any pair of sheep can receive; the Shephard's ultimate trust.
One day, two of the sheep were frolicking together, dreaming of the day when the Shephard would entrust one of his lambs into their care. These two sheep loved each other and the Shephard very much and wanted to share that love with a little one.
Their wish would come true, they soon learned. The Shephard's sheep dog, which helped to protect and guide the flock in the Shephard's absence, came to see them.
"The Shephard will bring you a lamb of your own soon," the sheep dog told them gladly.
The two sheep were unbelievably excited. They had both dreamed of this day since before they had even met each other. Unfortunately, they were just a little too excited. In the moment of euphoria they missed one vital word, "soon." This opened a dangerous opportunity for another sheep nearby, who was in truth a cunning wolf in sheep's clothing, to whisper, "now," instead.
Thinking that the sheep dog had said, "The Shephard will bring you a little lamb of your own now," the two sheep waited eagerly for the moment.
It didn't come.
Days, weeks, and eventually months passed by, and still the Shephard did not bring them their little one. All the days that passed were accompanied by the whispered barbs and snares of the wolf: "The Shephard does not trust you." "You have displeased the Shephard." "You are not fit to care for a lamb." The wolf was so effective with his whispering, that eventually he had mr. sheep convinced that he was a wolf hiding in sheep's clothing.
Thankfully, the Shephard watches his flock closely. He sent his sheep dog back to explain to the two sheep that they were indeed to be entrusted with a lamb, and how far away that glorious moment was. The sheep dog explained that he had said "soon", not "now," and the two sheep rejoiced.
It took a long time - a lot of patience, worry, fear, and excitement - but finally the day came. As they stood on the hillside, eagerly watching the path upon which the Shephard brought his lambs, it happened.
The Shephard emerged from the trees, carrying a little bundle in this arms. The two sheep verily quivered with anticipation. Could this really be the day, they wondered, after so much waiting?
The Shephard approached them and set the lamb on the ground of few feet away. For a moment the lamb seemed unsure. She looked up at the Shephard for encouragement. When the Shephard smiled that loving smile, the little lamb laughed and dashed forward. The two sheep and their little lamb all crushed together, each eager to show their love for the others. The Shephard smiled warmly down at the small family. The two sheep beamed up at him, eager - but failing - to fully express their gratitude and love.
Still keeping his eye on them, as he always does, the Shephard moved on to help other families while this newest family began the long process of getting acquainted with their little lamb. They would be a family forever, they all knew, and nothing could make them happier at the moment than that beautiful truth.
The Shephard's greatest duty is that of bringing little lambs into the flock from afar and entrusting them to new parents. It is the greatest honor any pair of sheep can receive; the Shephard's ultimate trust.
One day, two of the sheep were frolicking together, dreaming of the day when the Shephard would entrust one of his lambs into their care. These two sheep loved each other and the Shephard very much and wanted to share that love with a little one.
Their wish would come true, they soon learned. The Shephard's sheep dog, which helped to protect and guide the flock in the Shephard's absence, came to see them.
"The Shephard will bring you a lamb of your own soon," the sheep dog told them gladly.
The two sheep were unbelievably excited. They had both dreamed of this day since before they had even met each other. Unfortunately, they were just a little too excited. In the moment of euphoria they missed one vital word, "soon." This opened a dangerous opportunity for another sheep nearby, who was in truth a cunning wolf in sheep's clothing, to whisper, "now," instead.
Thinking that the sheep dog had said, "The Shephard will bring you a little lamb of your own now," the two sheep waited eagerly for the moment.
It didn't come.
Days, weeks, and eventually months passed by, and still the Shephard did not bring them their little one. All the days that passed were accompanied by the whispered barbs and snares of the wolf: "The Shephard does not trust you." "You have displeased the Shephard." "You are not fit to care for a lamb." The wolf was so effective with his whispering, that eventually he had mr. sheep convinced that he was a wolf hiding in sheep's clothing.
Thankfully, the Shephard watches his flock closely. He sent his sheep dog back to explain to the two sheep that they were indeed to be entrusted with a lamb, and how far away that glorious moment was. The sheep dog explained that he had said "soon", not "now," and the two sheep rejoiced.
It took a long time - a lot of patience, worry, fear, and excitement - but finally the day came. As they stood on the hillside, eagerly watching the path upon which the Shephard brought his lambs, it happened.
The Shephard emerged from the trees, carrying a little bundle in this arms. The two sheep verily quivered with anticipation. Could this really be the day, they wondered, after so much waiting?
The Shephard approached them and set the lamb on the ground of few feet away. For a moment the lamb seemed unsure. She looked up at the Shephard for encouragement. When the Shephard smiled that loving smile, the little lamb laughed and dashed forward. The two sheep and their little lamb all crushed together, each eager to show their love for the others. The Shephard smiled warmly down at the small family. The two sheep beamed up at him, eager - but failing - to fully express their gratitude and love.
Still keeping his eye on them, as he always does, the Shephard moved on to help other families while this newest family began the long process of getting acquainted with their little lamb. They would be a family forever, they all knew, and nothing could make them happier at the moment than that beautiful truth.