Safe sheep eat alot
Shepherd sheep and lambs
All flocks must have a good shepherd, sheep and lambs. All three are essential for a healthy flock. But inherent to each are failings and strengths. We as leaders must cover the failings, provide safety for growth and allow for strengths to further develop.
A Shepherd is someone who is held accountable for the health of the flock under his care. As such a good shepherd desire to provide safety, so the sheep are free to put their heads down to graze and drink. If they are nervous that something will come along from the outside and hurt them they will not get the nourishment they need. Likewise if the sheep eat and drink and are afraid that the shepherd will smack them with a stick, telling them they are doing it wrong or not fast enough, then these sheep are not only malnourished but neurotic as well. (a bad thing). A shepherd is a patient protector allowing for slow eating and slow processing of the flow of the water. S L O W is the shepherds pace.. patient and ever vigilant.
Sheep on the other hand are followers, they are trusting animals. As they feel safe they get to know the shepherds voice and follow it implicitly (even to the slaughter house). Sheep are herd animals and have a tendency to do what the sheep before them did. So change is reliant on trust of the shepherd. As a byproduct healthy sheep will produce wool that needs to be fleeced to this helps the sheep as well as the shepherd, as they grow in age and health they will also produce lambs.
Lambs of course are just baby sheep. Sheep that play and bounce in the pasture not sure of danger or safety just content to play and eat. Sheep know the voice of the shepherd because time spent with him. A lamb is new and does not know that the shepherd provides safety and food. So a lamb may wander off at times. They are not BAD, just kids as it were needing to be told the bounds of their pasture and limits to their travels. If a lamb is corrected too harshly they will become afraid of the shepherd and his staff. (a bad thing)
**** They don’t care what you know until they know how much you care ****
A lamb is not a follower out of experience to his shepherd he is a herd animal and will follow because it is what every one else is doing. This of course should change over time.
Shepherds related to sheep and lambs differently. As leaders of people we must treat every one of God’s people with the love and respect he does. HE loved them so much he died for them. We should not get our identity out of their obedience. Youth are much like lambs they appear to be full of vim an vigor but in reality they are scared children wanting to be loved and lead gently. As leaders if we say “hey guys you are doing it wrong and are a worthless piece of snail slime” this may be construed as a sharp hit with the staff of authority not the gently nudge of a loving shepherd. “hey guys lets do it this way and get the results we all want” ( inclusive verbiage is very important. ) A shepherd is with his sheep, smelling like sheep, playing with sheep. You get the idea.
Encourage your lambs and they will become sheep who will be easily lead. Patient and every vigilant.
All flocks must have a good shepherd, sheep and lambs. All three are essential for a healthy flock. But inherent to each are failings and strengths. We as leaders must cover the failings, provide safety for growth and allow for strengths to further develop.
A Shepherd is someone who is held accountable for the health of the flock under his care. As such a good shepherd desire to provide safety, so the sheep are free to put their heads down to graze and drink. If they are nervous that something will come along from the outside and hurt them they will not get the nourishment they need. Likewise if the sheep eat and drink and are afraid that the shepherd will smack them with a stick, telling them they are doing it wrong or not fast enough, then these sheep are not only malnourished but neurotic as well. (a bad thing). A shepherd is a patient protector allowing for slow eating and slow processing of the flow of the water. S L O W is the shepherds pace.. patient and ever vigilant.
Sheep on the other hand are followers, they are trusting animals. As they feel safe they get to know the shepherds voice and follow it implicitly (even to the slaughter house). Sheep are herd animals and have a tendency to do what the sheep before them did. So change is reliant on trust of the shepherd. As a byproduct healthy sheep will produce wool that needs to be fleeced to this helps the sheep as well as the shepherd, as they grow in age and health they will also produce lambs.
Lambs of course are just baby sheep. Sheep that play and bounce in the pasture not sure of danger or safety just content to play and eat. Sheep know the voice of the shepherd because time spent with him. A lamb is new and does not know that the shepherd provides safety and food. So a lamb may wander off at times. They are not BAD, just kids as it were needing to be told the bounds of their pasture and limits to their travels. If a lamb is corrected too harshly they will become afraid of the shepherd and his staff. (a bad thing)
**** They don’t care what you know until they know how much you care ****
A lamb is not a follower out of experience to his shepherd he is a herd animal and will follow because it is what every one else is doing. This of course should change over time.
Shepherds related to sheep and lambs differently. As leaders of people we must treat every one of God’s people with the love and respect he does. HE loved them so much he died for them. We should not get our identity out of their obedience. Youth are much like lambs they appear to be full of vim an vigor but in reality they are scared children wanting to be loved and lead gently. As leaders if we say “hey guys you are doing it wrong and are a worthless piece of snail slime” this may be construed as a sharp hit with the staff of authority not the gently nudge of a loving shepherd. “hey guys lets do it this way and get the results we all want” ( inclusive verbiage is very important. ) A shepherd is with his sheep, smelling like sheep, playing with sheep. You get the idea.
Encourage your lambs and they will become sheep who will be easily lead. Patient and every vigilant.
posted by P. John from Becida at 10:38 PM
3 comments
