“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.” Isaiah 40:11
Here is a wonderful little story by Margaret Powers called “Footprints in the Sand.” One night I had a dream—I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints, one belonged to me and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life. This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said that once I followed you, you would walk with me all the way, but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why in times when I needed you most, you should leave me.”
The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
Shepherds must wear special clothing to keep themselves warm and protected during cold nights under the stars. The main piece of clothing was a heavy waterproof cloak made of sheepskin or camel’s hair. On warmer nights, he would remove his cloak and roll it up to use as a pillow. Around the waist of the cloak he tied a wide belt or sash. That meant that the cloak just above the sash billowed out and hung loosely in front of his stomach. That loose, bulging part of the cloak was very important, for it was there in the soft folds of his cloak that the shepherd carried helpless lambs. Often lambs were injured, stepped on by larger sheep, or just too slow to keep up with the flock. Then the shepherd picked up the lamb and tucked it inside his cloak.
Isaiah says in chapter 40:11: “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.” What a beautiful picture of our Good Shepherd who cares for us.
Footprints in the Sand paints a beautiful picture of our walk with Jesus. It shows us that when times get tough the Savior carries us along. What a wonderful thought to remember today.
Dearest Lord God, how can we begin to thank you for keeping us close to your heart. We are your sinful lambs and often go astray, but your love shows us that you really do care for us. Please hold us tightly and never let us go. In the name of our Good Shepherd. Amen.
Recent Comments