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By Kim Furches
From the Archives: Winter 2013
It is an early fall morning and I sit, sipping freshly brewed coffee, peering out my window, trying to get a glimpse of a new morning that God has given to me, yet again. But dense fog hugs the ground as if to prolong the season’s change to winter. I, for one, am in agreement with the fog this morning. I want to prolong the transition from fall to winter myself for winter is the season which challenges me from all sides—spiritually, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. However, in my life as a shepherdess, there are blessings to every season. This fall morning begins the cycle in the life of a newborn lamb…
Today will be the day that my ram (male sheep) will be separated from all of the ewes (female sheep) so that I may begin the process of flushing my ewes. This involves providing nutrient rich grain once daily so that as the ewes prepare for breeding, the extra nutrition provides a greater opportunity for more than one ovum to be dropped for fertilization. This increases the chances that each ewe will deliver twins or triplets as opposed to a single lamb. My purpose for the ewes is to bring the greatest number of lambs (blessings) to my farm as possible. My ram will be given grain on a daily basis also; he has a big job ahead of him in breeding so many ewes. Today is a reminder to my sheep of their devotion to their master, since they really love grain, and that their Master is their only provision of grain. It is a special treat and a nice change of texture from the lush, green pastures of summer.
Sheep are not so intelligent. For the first few days of graining, I have to call them in, and then, after about a week, I shake the grain buckets and the noise brings them in; after about ten days, just my mere presence at the barn brings them in. They are grateful little creatures and look, with longing eyes, for just a little more. But more is a no-no in the world of grain. Only one cup per ewe; they struggle with the concept that I, as their master, know best. What a powerful metaphor in the life of a Christian! How many times have I looked up at God with longing eyes begging for more! My response has often been that of a spoiled brat, “God why can’t I have more? Haven’t I been a faithful servant? I deserve more, God! How come you are saying no to me, but folks with other masters are getting more than me?” Sound familiar? You see, as the master of my sheep, I know how much is enough. Too much grain, and my sheep become lazy, overweight, and lethargic. They lose sight of their purpose. They take their master for granted. They depend on the grain more than they depend on their master. There is a powerful metaphor here. Oh my -- just like I can depend more on His blessings than on my relationship with Him, the precious one-on-one time.
So it is, once again, my sheep have provided me with a much needed lesson. I am grateful for the portion that God grants me each day. Hopefully, tomorrow will the beginning of many tomorrows when I respect the amount He gives me daily—no more and no less—just thankfulness because I am His lamb; perfect and unblemished through His blood, shed for me on the cross of Calvary. May our lives be a continual praise to Him, the Good Shepherd.
