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Apr 15, 2023 06:00am

The Sheep of His Pasture

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Growing up, we raised sheep to show at the county fair. Each Spring, I would carefully pick out two young lambs from a local herd and bring them home to our small farm. The next few weeks would be filled with early mornings, trying to train them how to lead.

These lambs were not “Mary’s little lambs” and did not want to go anywhere I went. In fact, they typically ran the other direction when they saw me coming because they knew that some lead training was about to happen.

I wish I could say I was a gentle and patient lamb owner. The truth is, I had very little patience for these stubborn animals. Though they weighed a mere 70 lbs each, these lambs had the strength of a horse when they dug in their heels and refused to be led. I tried bribing them with food, pushing them from behind, and even letting the dog out to give them some extra motivation to move.

Nothing worked.

With my eyes set on the grand prize at the county fair, I finally resorted to the last tactic I had…the riding lawn mower. Attaching the lamb’s lead to the back of the lawnmower left the lamb with two choices: lead or be dragged. Can you guess what it chose? Every lamb, without fail, would sit on its front legs and drag until their knees became raw. To be clear, I hated this part of the training. It pained me to see these lambs double down on their stubbornness and refuse to be led.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long behind the slow lawnmower until the discomfort outweighed their stubbornness, at which point the lamb would jump up and follow my lead like they had been doing it their whole life. From that point on, I barely needed a lead rope. The lambs would simply walk beside me if my hand was on their head.

Every year, I was baffled by the same question. Why would these lambs choose to resist to the point of being dragged instead of simply walking alongside me?

Can you relate to the lamb? I certainly can. When given the option of simply following my Good Shepherd or digging in my heels, I’ve been known to dig in to the point of inflicting pain on myself and others. Fear, uncertainty, or pride all trigger stubbornness in me. I want control and have a difficult time trusting the One who is actually trying to gently lead me.

When Psalm 100 says, Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture, I know it is not necessarily a compliment. I find the imperative in the next verse almost comical. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! It’s as if He’s saying, “Don’t be stubborn. Don’t wait to be dragged. Be led, willingly, into My gates!”

I was never a good shepherdess; I was just slightly more stubborn than the sheep. I thank God that He is THE Good Shepherd and relentlessly ensures we follow Him where He leads.