Grandpa’s Sheep

Bible Reading: John 10:2-5, 14

“Oh, look!” Winnie said as her mother parked the car at Grandpa’s farm. “I see Grandpa’s new sheep! Let’s go pet them.” The children climbed out of the car and raced toward the sheep, but the animals darted to the far corner of the pen.

“Oops! We scared them,” said Josiah. “Let’s try again. Let’s pull some grass for them, and this time let’s walk, not run.”

Winnie agreed, and they each pulled a handful of grass and slowly carried it toward the corner where the sheep huddled. But as they approached, the flock spun around and dashed away. Winnie dropped her grass. “I give up.”

“Me too,” said Josiah, throwing his grass on the ground.

A moment later, the children saw their grandfather coming. They ran to give him a hug. “Grandpa, why do you have those baby bottles?” Winnie asked when she saw what he was carrying.

“Two of my lambs need these,” replied Grandpa. “I feed them because their mother died.”

“I wish I could feed one of them,” said Winnie, “but your sheep don’t like us. They run away.”

Grandpa smiled. “Watch,” he said as he led the children to a small pen beside the barn. They saw that it held two little lambs. “Here, Fluffy. Here, Snowball,” Grandpa called as he opened the pen. The lambs scampered out and followed him as he crisscrossed the lawn.

Josiah laughed. “They’re playing follow the leader!”

Grandpa handed each of the kids a bottle. “Here,” he said. “You can hold these for them.”

“Cool!” said Winnie, offering her bottle to one of the lambs. She giggled in delight as the lamb eagerly took it. “This one dances while he eats!” Winnie looked at Grandpa. “But why wouldn’t your other sheep eat the grass we pulled for them?”

“Sheep know their shepherd’s voice and follow him. They tend to run away from strangers,” explained Grandpa. “It always reminds me that we are like sheep. We follow our Shepherd—Jesus—by obeying Him and trusting Him to guide and protect us and not let anything or anyone lead us away from Him.” – Margaret M. Primrose

How About You?

Are you following Jesus, the Good Shepherd? You may not have wool and four legs, but the Bible often refers to Christians as sheep who hear and follow Jesus’ voice. He’s the one who guides us, cares for us, and supplies our needs. If you believe and trust in Jesus, you are following Him.

Today’s Key Verse: John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

Today’s Key Thought:

Follow your Shepherd—Jesus