The Broken Ones

The ewe once again pushes her newly delivered lamb to the ground and I want to cry. Her lamb feebly walks on soft hooves, still wet from birth and needing the acknowledgement of her mother. The lamb needs licked so warmth can come and her mother’s new milk that is so incredibly important for the healthy life of her baby. Yet, there she stands, continuing to push off the life that she carried for so long. Refusing to meet the increasingly important needs that are crucial for the health and growth of her baby. And once again the little lamb pursues her mother. Desiring her mother because she knows she is the one who can fill the ache in her little self; and she is rejected again, falling in the hay because of her feebleness. It makes me think of life, people and the brokenness around us.

My family just celebrated three years of having my little siblings in our home. I have to think about what all they have gone through and what they need so they can heal. They missed that nuzzle from their mother and that acknowledging touch.

There are children like orphan lambs that have been pushed in the hay by the one who should have protected them. They have soft hooves and feeble legs. They have not been given the security and nourishment that they should have received immediately at birth. You wonder often what will become of this hurting life.

Slowly healing comes. One day you will celebrate because they can stand on their own! Their legs have been strengthened. Where love, structure and life are met, there is growth. When you meet a child with love and gentleness, meeting their everyday needs, healing comes.

We all like sheep must come to Jesus in complete brokenness, realizing our need for Him. How we simply can’t live a rewarding life without Him. Coming to Him for nourishment, just as an orphan lamb needs a bottle and a child needs unconditional love.