But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He doth not afflict willingly the children of men.” Lam. 8:32, 33.
In some of her walks a certain lady would after meet an old shepherd, and his flock of sheep. One day she saw that he was carrying one of the younger ones in his arms, so she stopped to ask him why he carried her.
“O, she has a broken leg” he said. “Poor sheep”, the lady replied, “how did it happen?”
“Well” said the shepherd, “I broke it myself.”
“Is it possible; how could you be so cruel?”
It was this way” he said,’ “the sheep was so foolish, she would get away from the flock, and was in danger of getting lost. She would not listen to me call, nor pay any attention to the dog either. So I had to make her suffer to teach her obedience. It makes me feel very bad, of course, to have to use such severe measure to stop her from running away.”
“But how can the poor little cripple feed itself?”
“O! I take care of it. It has better food than all the rest of the flock, I watch it all the time, and don’t let her drag herself around; I carry her everywhere she needs to be carried.”
“Will it always be a cripple?”
“No”, said the shepherd “the leg will heal with the good care I give it, and then this sheep will be so attached to me, that she will not care to wander very far any more, and she will come when I call her.”
Dear Christian friends, who are afflicted, do not lose heart, Jesus is still the good Shepherd. Cling close to Him.
ML 05/18/1941