2016-06-30
I raised Beatrice as a pet from the time she was a little lamb. Four times a day I gave her milk from a bottle, calling her to me with a "Baa." Just "Baa. . ." like the bleat of a lamb. Perhaps because I was the closest thing she had to a mother, she always came when she heard that sound. Bea grew up, and occasionally went out to pasture with my neighbor's sheep. One day, I saw eight lambs making a break for it out of my neighbor's open gate. They were headed right toward a busy intersection-and Bea was leading the flock!

"Stop!" I shouted frantically. Lord, help, I prayed. Then, instinctively, I yelled, "Baaaaaa," as loud as I could. Bea stopped in her tracks, turned and ran toward me as fast as she could, with the other seven sheep following.

Never before has a Bible verse come faster to mind or seem so apt: "My sheep recognize my voice and they follow me." (John 10:27). As I shut the gate behind the lambs, I vowed to try to be as obedient to my Shepherd's voice as little Beatrice was to mine.

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