It was late and dark when I heard the soft, but not quite silent, padding of small steps approaching on the carpet. I felt the small presence paused at my side of the bed. “Namma,” she whispered, “I had a bad dream.” It was not a request, just short statement, a fact, and I knew what was needed. I threw back the covers and Rylie’s night-gowned form slipped in. She snuggled closely and draped her slender arm around my waist. Sweet, I thought, that she could come, without hesitation, like a little lamb, and find immediate comfort just being in my bed.
As the years fly by, we mothers and grandmothers will remember and treasure the times when small troubles are so easily fixed—when little lambs run to us for safety and comfort. We are privileged to shepherd our little ones, leading them ultimately to our Great Shepherd.
Children are a lot like sheep. While every other animal under God’s heaven can fend for itself—even a domesticated animal when released into the wild will discover survival instincts long forgotten—sheep can’t. They can’t hunt to find food, they can’t fight to protect themselves, and they lack any homing sense to direct them to home and safety.
Your little flock needs to be watched, observed carefully, to receive the love and attention needed to thrive. You can’t ignore or postpone their cries to a more convenient hour of the day, for mothering (or shepherding, for that matter) isn’t the kind of job where you can clock in and out. You are on duty at all times, day and night, to care for your precious lambs.
What mothering requires is not only vigilance, but transparency. Kids can see right through the “do as I say, not as I do” lifestyle. If you hate vegetables and make sour faces every time you taste something green, do you honestly think your child will love to eat theirs? By your daily life, you show them what God is like, even as you tell them about God, His Word, and His world.
This is big, ladies…way big. It is the most important job you have. But don’t feel alone in this role; we can find daily, moment-by-moment encouragement in God’s promises…not in our own perfection. We need to know the Great Shepherd ourselves, and the task—simply defined—is to lead our little ones to Him.
So when the scary times come, the storms loom, or the wolves and bears threaten, we can trust them to the Best Shepherd. When tempted to fret or be discouraged, or take loving concern and turn it into unproductive fear (“What if…!”), we need to pray, “Lord, shepherd my flock! I will feed and tend and teach as You command me to, but please, I am depending on You to do what only you can. Bring each one safely to Your home, for I know You care for them even more than I do.”
Like other shepherds
help me keep
watch o’er my flock by night;
mindful of each need,
each hurt, which might
lead one to stray—
each weakness
and each ill—
while others sleep
teach me to pray.
At night wolves and leopards,
hungry and clever, prowl
in search of strays
and wounded; when they howl,
Lord, still
my anxious heart to calm delight—
for the Great Shepherd watches with me
over my flock
by night.
by Ruth Bell Graham
Thank you so much for your encouraging words as I struggle with unproductive fear for my adult child.
Cathe,
I was just meditating on something my 4 year old granddaughter told me. “Gramma, whenever I get scared at night, I think of you because you always take such good care of me.” It reminds me so much of how whenever I am discouraged I can go to the Lord in prayer and I can rest in knowing that He “takes such good care of me.” I wrote about this in my journal just today. It always amazes me how Christian women have such a heart connection. God Bless you and all your wonderful family.
Brenda
I believe that the Lord has led me as I have trained and loved and led my own children. Only two of the three follow Him and one seems hopelessly lost to evil, but I pray that the Lord will be the great Shepherd today even as He was when they were small. Thanks for the encouragement.
Thank you Cathe. I am 52 yrs old and my youngest is 29. I still pray constantly for God’s protection over them as if they were still little ones. As long as I live, they will still be my little ones.
Thank you for this. Really, thank you. I did not have a mother growing up, not even close to one. I have two small children. It’s hard to slow down sometimes to just enjoy their smile, their need, to enjoy who they are. I feel like I’m in the race each day to who knows where. I didn’t have a chance to be a kid so I have to consciously make an effort to wonder what it is like for them at 5 and at 8. I have to try to put myself in their shoes.
I have been blessed tremendously.
Thank You so much for this message. I needed to be encouraged today. I desire to tend my little lambs to God and feel overwhelmed sometimes. Please pray for me to stay on task with God and my children.
Thank you. Love that Great Shepard of ours!
My goodness. What a cute picture of…..Lucy. As always, done in good taste.
Now that there is a good word for my stormy mama’s heart.
“Lord Jesus help me be the parent who lives in your spirit and
Loves my kids the way you do”. Amen
Yes! A calling, blessing and gift to be a mother. Can’t wait for the Virtue summer study to begin.
Thank you so much for this. I have a four year old that constantly needs my attention 24/7 and you have put it in a different perspective that I would never have realized for myself. I am very thankful for the message that you share, it has totally blessed me.
Wow, this really hit the spot. My mother and I are having troubles and just as I was about to throw my hands up, because I have no idea what to do, I received this email. Thank you so much!!!
Thank you for the message, it made me bleary eyed a wee bit. ;0)
Thank U!
Thank you for this beautiful article which I will be sharing with family and friends. As a grandmother, I am told by many that my husband and I are too involved with our precious granddaughters 6 and 3. Little do they know that we are giving our grand girls a strong foundation of faith as their parents continue to struggle in sharing their faith with their children. Our greatest role today is being Grandparents. When each little sheep tells me, “Grandma Girl I love you to the stars,” all the struggles and daily challenges are worth every heartache! Blessings to all!
Thank you. Tonight my husband came home so stressed out from work, I start worrying too. Then your email came! Again your message came at the perfect time.
Thank you and Bless you! An amazing article that hits home to every mother!
Your story of little Rylie reminded me of a recent experience at Disneyland whereby my grandson got separated from his dad. Afraid and not knowing where to go or what to do, he approached the balloon man who called security. Frantically, after realizing his son was not with him and the other two children, Dad retraced his steps and found Jake crying and holding onto the guy with the balloons. Later, I asked him how he felt when he heard his dad’s voice calling him and I told him that is how we are comforted when Jesus, “the Good Shepherd” calls us and comes to look for us when we’re lost. I was reminded of Greg talking about looking for opportunities to teach our children/grandchildren about Jesus. Thank you, Greg, and Cathe for prompting us to use these experiences as teaching tools.
What a lovely word picture this is Cathe ~ a favorite passage comes to mind,
“Fear not little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Luke 12:32
Rylie knew where to go for safety and comfort and like you said, the most important thing we can teach our little ones is to know the Great Shepherd for themselves . . . a good word to mothers and grandmothers!
Thank you ~ Blessings
Dear Cathe~
I too have had similiar experiences as you described with my little granddaughter, Adysen. It’s comforting to know that just as our little ones run to us in fear, so can we with our Heavenly Father. The times that Ady has had a fearful dream, I remind her that the Lord is with her and with me. I also tell her that He is always present, even when I’m not. This has stuck with her, as she has repeated this truth back to me at other times. What a blessing grandchildren are. I always loved being a mom, but being a grandma is the true frosting on the cake. Enjoy the rest of your time in Israel. Your church family are praying for you and Pastor Greg.
In Jesus,
Gracie
Thanks for the instruction and encouragement.
I would add that the wisdom you shared applies to our adult lambs as well. They need to know that there is always a place of love and acceptance that they can go to….And a place of forgiveness, yet a place where they will be edified and exhorted if needed.
Yes, thank you for encouraging words..I do too pray for my two boys now 28 and 24 and my two grand-kids now 4 and 10 months old….letting the Lord know to always protect them….especially my 24 year old son who has been in two severe accidents, but the Lord has rescued him. He has not had one scratch on him…I believe thru me praying for him everyday, the Lord has protected him and has saved his life. Yes, we as parents should always pray for our kids and grand-kids..because you just never know. And we should let them know that we are praying always for them.
So sweet Cathe. I am so glad God has filled your life with little girls, and now a brand new grandson on the way! God bless you precious sister and friend. Love, Susan
Thank you Cathe for letting our Father use you in such a powerful way. Here I am again awake at 4 in the morning reading and praying. I was not a Christian when I was raising my children and it hurts to realize the beauty of God and His love that we missed out on during that time. I know that He doesn’t want me to greive over this, but it’s difficult to watch my grown children make the same mistakes I made. We hold so much pain in our hearts over decisions we have made. But GOD is so gracious in His love, because He sent His Son to die for us we no longer have to live with those sins. Sometimes it’s hard not to be haunted by them and I have to remember the ultimate price has already been paid. Because Jesus died for me I no longer have a past full of sin. I continue to pray for my grown chidren and grandchildren that they will soon hear His voice calling to them. Take hold of me my child, let me give you the amazing gift of peace.
My last two little sheep are 17 & 18 and I still take my precious “shepherding” of them very seriously. They all need a mother’s intercession and watchful heart at any age.
Thank you so much Cathe! I have an 8 year old girl and a 5 year old boy at home. I am also 7 months pregnant, I work full time and go to school to finish my paralegal degree. In addition, I am involved in missionary work with my local church and as you can imagine there are times when I feel clustered and weak. My husband has been unemployed for about 2 years and working is not much of a choice for me, it is more like a necessity to continue to provide for my family. At times I feel like a failure because I am just so exhausted. I barely have any time to share with my girlfriends because any time I have free I want to spend it with my kids and husband. I know that as a mother I have been called to lead my little ones and also my husband, who is terribly discouraged now because he feels like he is not providing and with my due date so close he feels somewhat depressed. I really try hard to do things right. I have held on to God’s promises, He gives me strength & courage thru people like you.
Thank you for this word. What verse of the Bible could I use for this amazing word that touched my heart.
Thank you for sharing and for your faithfulness to our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Cathe, Your words are always so encouraging…Your story sounded so much like what my grandson does to me, and it feels wonderful knowing how much those little people love us as grandparents.
Thank you….thank you for sharing…and for having the heart of a true shepherdess. <3
Cathe,
This is the very first e-mail I’ve received from you and it is a blessing.
Gospel Truth, beautiful prose and poetry–these things I enjoy very much. :)
In fact, you have convinced me to leave vanity (women dress mainly for women–if vain and absorbed in this world), and come to Thursday night Virtue Women’s Study in Riverside.
May God the Father, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit keep their hand(s) on you and your family!
Mona
Cathe,
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story about your granddaughter. One day I too, hope to be a grandmother and can share a similiar story. As my little lamb who is now 16 has gone astray, but I know God is watching out for her, and my prayer like yours is for God to, “Bring her safely to His home…as His love for her is far greater than mine”.
Thank-you. I was just thinking of my 10 year old who is a very strong minded kid and my daughter who is 4. It is difficult to be a mom at times, but it is good to know that the Lord is, and has always been with me. Thank-you I needed to hear that.
Cathe,
This story really touched my heart because it spoke of the Shephard and the sheep. My cousin just passed away two weeks ago at the young age of 30. I had the privilege of reading one of the scriptures that spoke of the Shephard and the Sheep. I knew some people there would not understand what the Shephard and the sheep represented, so I did a small teaching of what it meant. I felt very honored to represent our Lord. I will miss my cousin very much, but I know he is in the presence of God, perfect and Happy!! You and Greg are a blessing and my family and I are so lucky to be able to attend and have Harvest as our Church. God bless you both!!
Thank you!
Thank you Cathe. I needed to read that just now. Thank you for being such a good example of a Godly woman to all of us. Love you and God bless..
May I ask who to took this photograph? I love it!
You are a good Nammie.