The little lamb wandered far away
only intending to stay the day.
But a storm came quickly, fierce and strong,
separating him from his familiar throng.
He stumbled and struggled for a place to hide,
‘til he found a cave and hurried inside.
When the wind and rain had finally passed by,
the little lamb crawled out to see the sky.
To his dismay, the sky lost its light;
he knew he now must stay the night.
In a cave by himself, he started to weep,
shivering cold, he forced himself to sleep.
When the morning came, the lamb ran out,
eager to return home, he scurried about.
But nothing was familiar about this terrain,
each direction he ran was only in vain.
Lonely and scared, he started back to the cave,
wondering if it would become his grave.
His stomach pained and rumbled, but just in time,
a rich patch of green grass he was lucky to find.
He ate until he had more than his fill,
then laid down to rest in the cave so still.
When he awoke, he knew he had to make do.
The stubborn lamb worked with resolve anew.
The days crawled past and he tried not to moan.
The lamb made the most of his new tiny home.
He found hay for a bed, and puddles to drink.
I guess this is my new life, he started to think.
With struggles, his little heart began to turn stone,
telling himself, No one cares, I’ll do this on my own.
For this lost little lamb, time was not kind;
fear and regret took hold of his mind.
He lost his desire to eat and survive.
His joy all but gone, he was barely alive.
He left his cave to wander once more,
‘til he found a place he hadn’t been to before.
A quiet stream with cold water so clear,
he could hardly believe he’d never been here.
Toward the water, he breathlessly stumbled,
but his legs were too weak, the little lamb tumbled.
Dejected, he did something he hadn’t before.
The stubborn lamb cried out ‘til his throat was sore.
He yelled and he bleated, ‘til he thought it for naught,
when Someone scooped up this poor lamb on the spot.
To the water the lamb was brought for a drink.
He lapped and he slurped before he could think.
When the ripples stilled, and he saw the reflection,
‘Twas the Shepherd who lifted him up in affection.
I’m sorry I wandered, I just longed to explore,
I understand why you never searched for me before.
The Shepherd bent down, to face His young lamb,
My little one, he smiled, don’t you know who I Am?
And with cupped hands, he served water clear,
for the lamb to drink, til he was ready to hear.
I know my sheep, and I watched each time that you roamed,
I knew you would one day stray farther from home.
I cleared a small nook in some rocks and placed hay nearby,
I dug holes for puddles each time rain fell from the sky.
I made sure there was enough fresh grass to eat.
Then one day you wandered away, without even a bleat.
It is not in my nature to force one lamb or the other
to do this or that, each one must surely discover
who they are to become, and why they are here,
though you thought you were lost, I have always been near.
Seek and you’ll find Me, be still and you’ll see,
I will never forsake you—now come unto Me.
-Bh
(artwork by yongsung kim, Gentle Shepherd)
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