Sheeple

Yesterday had its frustrations. One of the biggest frustrations are the neighbor’s animals. I’m working hard to keep our animals fenced in their various places, and that has been successful, but then the neighbor’s cows eat our silage, the sheep eat our roses, the pigs rip through the chicken fence–multiple times–to eat the chicken feed, and the dogs eat our chickens.

It is a constant battle with animals here. Trust me, it is bad enough dealing with our own animals. But then the neighbor’s animals, too…. Can someone explain to my why an animal that has fifteen acres of its own land must continually cross into other land? If I wanted them to stay on this side of the fence, they’d be fighting to get back to the other side.

I was dealing with sheep the other day. In the past year, I have discovered that I would rather have any other animal than sheep. Maybe it’s just local sheep, but they are the worst trouble makers. Give me goats any day. Or cows. Or even pigs. Not sheep.

Anyhoo, I was dealing with these sheep, and the verse popped into my mind, “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his way. And the Lord has laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all.”

I had to stop and think. That’s how I appear(ed) to God? Like these sheep I’m chasing–AGAIN! And Jesus had to carry all of that rebellion and disobedience and ignorance and everything? And not just mine but everyone’s.

That is deeply humbling. I don’t want to be like a sheep, not in that way. Yet, I know that I was and likely will be again. Unlike sheep, I can repent and be changed. And I am supremely thankful that the Lord is my Shepherd. I have all that I need.

And perhaps there are things I can learn from His shepherding that can help make these animal frustrations have less effect on my peace or happiness.