An Eastern Shepherd

Yesterday, we received a card in the mail from some dear Mennonite friends of Jeff's. Their family too has endured the tragic loss of a son. In the card were several poems that have brought comfort to them. There were several good ones, but the last one I read especially stuck with me as I drifted to sleep last night.

An Eastern Shepherd

An Eastern shepherd led his sheep
Toward a river's brink,
But when they saw the stream was broad,
Their hearts with fear did shrink;
And though the shepherd went across
In view of all the sheep,
They did not dare to follow him
And ford the waters deep.

And so he took a little lamb
Right from His mothers side,
He clasped it in his shelt'ring arm,
And with it crossed the tide.
The mother, missing what she loved,
Was eager now to gain
The distant shore, that she might find
Her precious lamb again.

She quickly made her way across,
And soon the stream she passed;
And other sheep soon followed her,
Til all had crossed at last.
She found the lamb which she had lost,
Within the shepherd's care;
And he had used her little one,
In leading many there.

Oh, Mother, has your little lamb
Been carried on before?
The Shepherd wants to have you, too,
Upon the farther shore.
And so He clasped your treasured one
Unto His sheltering breast,
That you might come and seek it there,
And find in Him your rest.

In days to come it may be we shall see
Just why was sent this bitter test;
'Til then, we can but bow our head in tears,
And say, "God knoweth best."

Unknown

Certainly in these days, we look for meaning to what has happened. Sometimes it can be maddening. Sometimes selfishness takes over and doesn't care why. I just want him back! And, certainly I can in no way liken myself to God, except to hope that my life now would mirror Him and that the loss of Jeffrey might be gain to heaven, not just that he has made it there, but that as we follow the Shepherd across the stream many will follow. Not with their eyes on us for we are only human and will stumble but that through us their eyes might be fixed on Him and they will make it safely over.