When I was a young girl, I remember hearing and singing a song in our church. I feel I was born with the love of nature in my heart, so even back then at a very young age, these words meant something to me. I didn't fully understand the depth of the song, until I was older. The title? The Ninety and Nine by Elizabeth Cecelia Douglas Clephane, music by Ira David Sankey.
You see as a young child I simply thought that a shepherd found his lost sheep. It didn't matter that he had 99 others in the pen, he knew one was missing and needed to find it. As I got older, I realized, I was the sheep. Jesus was the Shepherd who had many, many, many followers who faithfully served him, but I was lost. I didn't think I needed him, my ways made sense. Even though, he had many, I wasn't like any of them. I was unique, just as you are unique. He knows when we go missing. He went through death on a cross to save you, to bring you back and some day He will go through the valley of death with us to bring us home.
This past week, I was reminded of this song, that I honestly forgot all about. But once reminded, could think of nothing else. Early last week, we had a thunderstorm pass through. Nothing major, but one of the first of the season with lightening and thunder. The sky was getting darker earlier and I knew a storm was coming. I waited longer than usual to close the hen house because of things I was doing in the house. I finally made my way out to the barn and counted like I do every night. We have too many foxes, hawks, and eagles. I have to count every night to make sure my 25 are safe. I counted three times, 24.....I turned the light on, which they hate once in their favorite spot, 24. I knew what this meant. I put on my jacket with hood up and flashlight in hand. I walked and walked, I called and called. No response. I assumed a fox or hawk got one. I decided to make one more trip around the area and was looking for feathers. Then back in the far corner under an old sheep pen type building, she sat. A chicken can't see very well in the dark, that is why they head into the roost before sunset. They want to be off the ground and safe from the darkness. With the storm coming she didn't realize how fast it would get dark and couldn't find her way back. She sat in the far corner on the ground. Neither of which was what she was used to. As soon as I saw her, I knew her. She is the one who everyday despite the safe fence and gate I have for her, flies out to eat the grass on the other side. She always flies back in before dark. As I approached her, she became very nervous. I caught her and as soon as I spoke to her, she relaxed and even gave out a quiet cluck type sound that continued the entire time I carried her back to the hen house. The others were glad to have her back and made room for her on her branch on their roost. Safe and sound.
As I was carrying her, I had several thoughts go through my mind. I was mad to be in the rain getting soaked. I was frustrated about her leaving when she was suppose to stay in, caused me to get wet and kept me out in the rain. When I say wet, I had to completely change when I came in. All the others stay in the fence when the gate is closed. She deserved to be grabbed by something, she broke the rules everyday. I had more important things to be doing then walking in the rain and looking for a chicken who purposely gets out. IMMEDIATELY, I was reminded, I break the rules every day, I think my way makes more sense, even though I am told the boundaries I should keep, and I have someone who is constantly watching over me. (Romans 8:34 even reminds us that Christ is interceding for us at this very moment). I then was reminded of the Ninety-Nine and I couldn't stop humming the tune. I don't deserve to be rescued, loved and saved for eternity. Even though God has thousands upon thousands, he still cares for me. It didn't matter I had 24, that would still be enough, I knew one was missing and I had to find her. I felt for a split second what He must feel like when one of His goes missing. I was dealing with a bird, His is much, much, much greater, another human being, that He created in His image.
He knows when we are missing, He knows when we go stray, He knows when we need Him to come and rescue us. He knows when darkness can suddenly surround us and a storm from no where is upon us. He will gladly come rescue us. Also, I don't think He gets mad, like I did. I don't see Him saying "she deserves this, I told her what to do, I showed her which way to go, I gave her all she needed, yet she chose to leave the safe area to enter the darkness...." Do you need to be found by your Savior today? Do you need to hear His voice to feel calmer and less stressed and anxious? Do you need to rest in His arms so you can truly rest and let Him take care of the details? Don't wait till the storm comes and you are backed into a corner, scared and alone. He already knows what has happened, run to Him and tell Him the details. He cares for you. You see to Him, it isn't about the numbers its about the individual. You can read in Luke 15:4-7 about the lost sheep. I know that this scripture deals more with accepting Christ, but I also think it relates on a daily level as well. I love the image of him throwing the sheep on his shoulders. He will do that for you as well. Let Him carry you.
This week's post got a bit long, but I honestly didn't know what to delete, so I thank you for faithfully reading each week and I hope today's touched you in a special way. I also love feedback. Feel free to post on my blog or send me an email at: thesangreys@gmail.com
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