We’ve raised sheep for many years. Truth be told, the sheep raising is primarily my husband’s project. But, I’ve had time to observe these critters and their interactions with each other, with people and with their world. And I find it very interesting how often people are compared to sheep in the Bible.

Sheep can be very loving, sweet, meek followers. They can also be demanding, jealous, greedy, bossy and domineering. Ewes can be excellent moms and take very good care of their lambs. In contrast, they can also be terrible moms and will leave their lambs to fend for themselves. We’ve even had ewes that would try to steal another ewe’s baby. And occasionally, we have a sheep that is just down right mean.

The sheep have a lot of predators, especially the little ones. For their protection, we put them in a smaller pen next to the barn at night. One morning, I went out in the pen to open the gate to the field so they could go pick grass. I had a hysterectomy only a couple of months before. I opened the gate and on the way back to the house, the ram butted me in the stomach and knocked me flat on my behind. He put everything he had into it and hit me in that 7 to 8 inch surgical incision. Then, he stood over me with a look of haughty glaring defiance. I can still see the look in his eye. I had on a pair of slides and he completely knocked me out of me shoes! Yelling at the top of my lungs for him to “Get out!”, I picked up one of my shoes and threw it at him. He finally decided to move on out the gate and go eat grass with the other sheep. Amazingly and very thankfully, I wasn’t hurt. Even among all the rocks, I had landed on a soft yet slightly muddy spot. I didn’t even have a bruise. The only thing hurt was my feelings. I found my shoes, put them on and headed for the house. Vowing that animal was going to the sale barn. I would not put up with that kind of behavior. I would not buy feed and care for a mean hateful animal. No animal that despised, hated and tried to hurt me would be allowed to stay on our farm!!!

Which made me think…I wonder if that’s how God feels about those of us who are harboring a mean and hateful spirit???

#God #sheep