"One, two, three," He patiently counted with glee in His heart. "Ninety eight, ninety nine....." He found that there were only 99 sheep. "Where are you little sheep?" The Shepherd looked all around him in hopes of spotting the lost sheep. He looked to his left, and he looked to his right. Not one missing sheep did he find. He quietly wandered from the meadow. "Where are you little sheep?" he called once again. When all of a sudden, the Shepherd heard a noise.
"I'm here in the bushes! Help!" the Shepherd responded and ran for the bush. The little sheep was struggling to get out. The more she fought and struggled, the more deep she would be.
"Here I am." the Shepherd said. "Do not be afraid. I am right here, okay?" he looked at her face and he wiped away her tears. He got her out and layed his hands on her.
"I knew you would find me," she said. "I knew you would be here. But I strayed and went my own way. I began to doubt you. I didn't think you could take care of me. So I left. But then I heard your voice. I heard you calling my name." With a patient ear, the Shepherd looked at her in the sweetest most gentle way.
"Why did you look for me? Why did you come when you knew I went my own route?" Then, the Shepherd looked at her for some time before answering; "My child, let me tell you why I came near. I came so I can dry every single one of your tears. I came so I can fill the hole in your heart. To give you peace. You fret; you are afraid of this place. Why? Don't you know about grace? I came so you could have me everyday. And when you have sorrows, I will be there. My little sheep, I found you when you were lost. Lost in the bushes. And I came to find you because I love you."
So there I was. Watching a T.V show quietly in the room. When my Grandma (grama) comes in. These are along the lines of what she said to me.
"Amber, I know you worry about all the lost people out there. But I realized - we are not the saviors. Picture 100 little sheep. Jesus, the Shepherd is counting them. And He only counts 99. He goes off to find that lost little sheep. "Where are you?" He calls out. That sheep got into the world. She got stuck in the fence and can't escape. And then Jesus comes alongside her and rescues her." She twisted her head and said, "Look. It's like that picture of Jesus and the sheep." I looked at the picture that hang on the wall ever since I can remember. "Jesus will rescue His lost little sheep. You just gotta keep praying for them to be found. In His own way He will call them by name, and they will hear Him."
Then, in her sweet voice, she sang, (in spanish) "There were one hundres sheep. The Shepherd came to count them. Once He counted them all, one was missing..."
That made me smile at how He goes and looks for His lost sheep and calls them by name oh so tenderly. I told her I would write a poem about it. Here it is:
Far in the meadow were 100 sheep
Deep was their slumber; sweet was their sleep.
Not one disturbence, not even one sound
When one by one the Shepherd would count.
"1, 2, 3" He'd begin
When all seemed to be there, He thought He would end.
"98, 99--one isn't here. Oh little sheep! Where are you my dear?"
He looked to the left, He looked to the right.
With a soft voice, "Where are you tonight?"
Out of the meadow, He called her by name
"Where are you?" He said with a voice that was tame.
Silently walking, He heard a faint yelp;
"Im here in the bushes--oh please, come and help!"
Caught in the bushes was the lost little sheep
Helplessly pushing herself way in deep.
"Here I am; Please do not fear;
For I am your Shepherd, I will be right here."
She lifted her face and He wiped all her tears
"I knew You would find me; I knew You'd be near."
"I strayed from the rest, I went my own route;
And when I got lost I began to doubt.
But then I heard You, Your voice I knew well,
And when I saw Your face, my world hope around.
You came and You saw me, You knew where I lay;
But why did You save me when I went my own way?"
"My child, let me tell you of why I came near;
I came so I could gather all of your tears.
I came to fill that hole in your heart;
To bring you My peace and give you a new start.
You worry and fret for the things of this place
But why little sheep? Don't you know about grace?
I came so you'll have Me in all your tomorrows
And when you cry out, I'll wipe all your sorrows.
I found you in bushes, there you were deep;
Come my child, my found little sheep."
