A hot, dusty summer day, and a long, weary road to travel over, and the large flock of sheep and lambs, panting at every step, made many a pitying eye look sadly after them. Many a little lamb lay down by the roadside entirely spent and worn out, while others limped along so lame, that it seemed they, too, must very soon give up the struggle. Very slowly they passed on, and last of all walked the shepherd, carrying in his arms one of the poor lambs that had fallen down, unable to walk another step.
From the windows of a house overlooking the road several bright faced little girls were intently watching the flock, and many were the pitying exclamations of the children, as they watched one after the other of the lame sheep and lambs pass out of sight.
Soon after, one of the little girls, who had been looking out of the window on that hot July day, was writing to a friend, and if some of the little readers of FAITHFUL WORDS could have peeped over her shoulder as she wrote, they would have read the following words:― I am so glad I am not like those poor sheep and lambs, for the Lord Jesus is my Shepherd, and I am sure that He will always take care of me. I do believe on Him now, and am one of the Lord’s lambs, and it makes me so glad. I want to see the Lord very much, and I am glad to think He may come soon,”
Dear little children, can every one of you who read this paper say what this little girl could? She was not quite twelve years old, and perhaps some of you are just her age. Can you say, “The Lord is my Shepherd?” If you cannot, oh, do not put off calling to Him for mercy. You are not ready for the Lord to come, and He may be here very soon; how would you meet Him? Oh, do trust Him now at once, so that you, too, may be one of His lambs.
It is so happy to belong to the Good Shepherd! He died for His sheep and lambs, and now He lives to bless them. He thinks of each one of the flock; no little weary lamb can cry for help but Jesus hears, and not only hears, but succors the feeble wanderer. Also, Jesus is leading the flock to heaven. He goes first, and where He goes His sheep follow, while on their way He gives them what, in His love and wisdom, He sees they need. L. T.