Uncle Bill’s Sheep

Read: John 21:15-17

“Why do we have to do this?” Grayson pinched his nose as he eyed his uncle’s barn.

“We’re helping out for a few days,” Mom said. “Come on, the sheep are waiting.”

Grayson dragged his feet as they walked over to the barn. Mom led the way to a pen of dirty, wooly sheep. She held out a handful of dry food, and all the animals raced over to her.

“You’re going to let them eat off your hand?” Grayson made a face.

Mom giggled as one of the sheep ran its thick tongue over her hand. “It’s actually fun.” She glanced back at Grayson. “If you don’t want to feed them, you can get them water. We need to take care of them to help your uncle while he’s recovering from surgery.”

“Uncle Bill’s never done anything for us,” Grayson muttered as he turned away.

Grayson filled a bucket with water and carried it to the sheep’s pen. He tried to pour it carefully into their trough, but it still splashed, and he let out a scream as dirty water got on his legs.

“You can shower when we get home,” Mom said. She smiled as one of the sheep stuck its nose in the trough. “Did you know that Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him, all in a row?”

Grayson’s forehead wrinkled. Why was his mom suddenly bringing up a Bible story?

“Each time Peter said that he did, Jesus told him to care for His sheep.”

“Jesus had sheep?” Grayson stared at his mom.

“He didn’t mean actual sheep,” Mom said. “He meant people that He died on the cross to save. People like me and you. People like your uncle Bill.”

Grayson sighed. “So by caring for Uncle Bill’s sheep, we’re caring for Jesus’s sheep too?”

Mom nodded. “Caring for Uncle Bill’s sheep shows that we love him, and it shows that we love Jesus too. He loves Uncle Bill and wants us to show him His love by helping him.”

Grayson looked at the dirty animals before reaching for his mom’s bucket of feed. “If this shows that I love Jesus, okay.” He grabbed a handful of food. When he held it out and the sheep moved from his mom to him, he couldn’t help but smile.

–Emily Acker

How about you? How often do you do something for someone simply because you want to show them God’s love? Jesus says that when we care for others and show them the same kind of love He has shown us, we’re doing those things for Him (Matthew 25:31-40). Is there someone who you could do something for today to cheer them up and show them God’s love?

Today’s key verse: By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Show love by caring for others