Come with me on a little adventure in the way back machine all you mama Peabody’s out there, waaayyyy back tooooo…this morning, or yesterday morning, or yesterday-flipping-afternoon, or really anydayofthelivelongweek, or so it seems lately.  Ever have those days, the kind where you feel like you are out there, riding the range, roping the strays, herding, herding, herding, “kiiyippppeeeeyyiiipppeeeyiipppeeeyay” already?  Ever have that kind of day week month sigh day?

Lately it seems like they have all been like that, me out there being Mama Cowgirl, wrangling in the strays, only they all seem like strays, and I am having to herd them, and drive them from one pasture to another, it is just not fun, no way!!  I don’t want to be the cowgirl, yelling and driving my herd onward, leaving a broken trail marked but dust and dung(proverbially thank-you!) in our wake.

A “good” shepherd, this is what I am want to be, it evokes such a nice calm picture doesn’t it?  AAAHHHH peace, quiet sheep, wandering along, meandering and stopping to munch here and there, rest quietly along the way.  This is what I long to be, and I feel so far from it right now.  I want to be the mom who guides her children along, giving gentle nudges to redirect, who speaks softly, and only carries a big stick to fend off the predators.

This is the biggest difference in being a cowgirl, and  a good shepherd, cows are being driven to their slaughter, from start to finish, while sheep are being groomed and guided, protected from those who prey on their sweet innocence.  That is what I want, that is who I want to be all the time, that “good” shepherd.  Can I achieve that, I do not know, but it is my goal, and I pray for the strength and grace to be that for my children, they deserve it.  Amen