From scattered to following.

8 months ago I stepped on pasture and the flock scattered. They did not trust me… they did not understand what I was there for.

As I began to work with the flock, they came to the place where they would follow my feed bucket. They came for what I had to offer.

As I continued the rotational grazing program (moving them to fresh pasture daily), my sheep began to understand: I was there to care for them.

In time, I no longer needed the feed bucket to draw them. They came to know the sound of my voice. They began to respond to my call.

Now when I step on pasture there is no hesitation or fear; my sheep follow me.

They came first in hopes of receiving something. Now they come because they know me, they trust me. (And, TBH, they are animals so they probably do still hope for food at some point🤷🏼‍♀️).

This process has drawn me back to the relationship I have with my Shepherd.
I think, as Christians, we often come to Christ because we want something out of it. We want that feed bucket full of hopes and dreams.

And He is patient with that.

But as we grow in our relationship with Him we understand that He is doing something greater than just carrying that feed bucket. We begin to understand that His plan is bigger and, regardless of what He gives us, He is leading us to the very best.

And we begin to draw near and trust Him for Who He is as much as what He gives.

The process of building trust with this flock took time and is still a work in progress. Even so, our trust in Christ is a work in progress.

Nevertheless, His care is unconditional.

And as a shepherdess I now understand the delight He feels when His sheep draw near without the use of a feed bucket. 😅

-the Shepherdess

The Lord God says: “So will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered…” Ezekiel‬ ‭34:12‬