Once upon a time, not very long ago
I was a lost sheep roaming the wild
Enemy’s threats booming in my ears.
The farther I strayed, the leaner my hope.
As faith shrunk, I lost grip on help.
Vulnerability took the lead; careless,
Witless, trampling ever before me.
Dread and doubt my escorts became
I lived constant terror, my life a fat risk;
Each night, I slept in snarling arms of fear
Woken in the morning by gratuitous care
Accompanied by inescapable worries
Consistent reminders of stalking failure:
Fending every step from snares and traps
Slaving every day to make ends meet.
Once upon a time, not very long ago
In the care of the good Shepherd
I grumbled life was hard and boring
I thought Him mean until I went astray.
Food For Thought: It is very unfortunate that we allow our human nature to drive us to underestimate, ignore, abuse, discredit and discard what is ours until we lose it. In its absence, we suddenly wake up too late to the realization of the values we took for granted. In the hands of another who appreciates what we lost, remorse and regret hunt and hurt for what we wish we had treated differently and never lost. Sometimes, repentance brings us to the place of recovery, some others, it is too late: what is gone is gone for good. We spend valuable time grieving, regretting, wishing things were different. I have been there. I have seen others there too and I am learning from them. It is heartbreaking to watch those in such situations who never learn, their life a continuous repeat of the same thing: groping from one regret to another. That is not the way to live. May we esteem our blessings, may they appreciate in our hearts, in our hands and in our eyes, may we not lose them to learn how valuable they truly are.
Scripture: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53: 6.
Prayer: Dear Lord, left to myself, as a fly is drawn to fire, so I’m drawn to destruction; lead me, keep me, preserve me from evil until I am home safe with You, amen.