On Keeping Sheep

I am a sucker for baby animals, though I am not a self-proclaimed animal lover or animal advocate. I just love the babies. As I was recently driving through beautiful, green farming country in Utah, babies were plentiful - baby colts nursing, baby cows and baby goats grazing, and baby sheep bounding after their mamas. I wish I would have been walking through farming country, rather than driving, so I could have watched the babies for more than just a glance here and there while traveling at 65 miles an hour on a 2-lane highway. I was alone, but caught myself saying aloud, "oh look at the baby lambs!" Though all the babies captivated me, the tiny little lambs were the ones that made me want to pull over and watch. The lambs seemed to be the most childlike to me, as they stood close to their mothers' sides. If they weren't right next to their mothers, they were running to keep up with their mothers' strides.

It's not very often that I drive alone in the car, and on this occasion, I had been alone in the car for almost 6 hours, which is about unheard of, really! I was on my way to spend time with sisters-in-law and friends and consequently, would have a little rest from my motherly responsibilities for a few days. I am blessed to do this at least once a year, and it is always a wonderful time with wonderful women. We eat way too much amazing food, graze on chocolate and other delectable goodies, watch movies (chick flicks, of course), work on projects, talk, and laugh. Home is never far from any of our hearts or minds, though the time away is always rejuvenating. Much of what we do while away from home focuses on our own little lambs (& grand lambs) - ranging in age from infant to 30ish! We talk about their struggles and triumphs as well as our own. We seek advice from those with more motherly experience. We make quilts for them, design scrapbook pages for them, make necklaces for their bridesmaids to wear, or in my case, create a slideshow of photos to be shown at the upcoming graduation of a certain 8th-grader I know quite well. This time away from day-to-day responsibilities is, though somewhat of a break from mothering, really all about mothering. And when I leave, I always, always come away a better mother after being with these other incredible mothers for a brief time.

And while the mama is away from home, the lambs get to spend time with their dad, and seem to realize that for all the apparent grief their mother often gives them, they actually like it when she's around. In fact, I heard a rumor from a very reliable source, that one of my lambs went up to her grandmother on Sunday and said very astutely, "We have mothers for a reason, you know." I'm so glad this lamb had the opportunity to come to such a conclusion on her own!

On Tuesday when I came home, I accompanied a friend of mine as she practiced a song she will be singing in church on Sunday. As I listened to her beautiful soprano voice sing these words, I have no doubt that there will be many mother's eyes wet with tears as they reflect on their own opportunities of keeping sheep. Here are the words - now if only you could hear my friend sing them . . .

I have a little flock of sheep, and they are mine to tend and keep,
And I must guard them every day, for little lambs, when left alone, will lose their way.
So many voices say to me, "A sheep fold is no place to be. Your time in there is dull and slow, And lambs leave very little room for you to grow."

Oh, if I ever start to stray, deceived by thoughts of greener pastures, Remind me, Lord, that keeping sheep will lead to happier everafters.

Oh surely there will come a day when all the lambs have left my side,
And I am free to roam about, and go exploring other meadows, green and wide.
Yet something whispers in my heart that when my sheep have left this pen,
I'll long to stroke their little heads; to draw them close to me and have them young again.

So, if I ever start to stray, deceived by thoughts of greener pastures, Remind me, Lord that keeping sheep, will lead to happier everafters.

So while they still are in my care, I pray that I will clearly see
these little lambs within my fold are tender gifts the Master Shepherd has given me.

I am so thankful for the little flock of sheep I have been given to raise. I simply can't imagine doing anything else!

Mother's Day, 2009