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A very long time
ago, a shepherd
was living in
Palestine, birth
place of Jesus,
and he had one
hundred sheep.
He was a very
good man and
looked carefully
after the sheep,
providing them
with fresh water
and always
taking them to
green and sunny
fields.
The sheep liked
their shepherd
very much, as he
was always
lovely and good
to them.
One day, one of
the sheep
decided to run
away. She was
bored with the
others and of
going to the
same very
fields. The
sheep wanted to
be free, see
other places and
meet new people,
as she was tired
of obeying
orders. She
wondered that
there would be
better fields
and food
somewhere else.
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Then, she
decided to wait
until late
night, when all
sheep would be
asleep,
and has run away
silently. She
did not want to
wake up the
shepherd nor its
sisters.
The sheep did
not consider the
danger she could
face when
running into the
dark and going
through unknown
places. It did
not come to her
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mind
that she
could
run into
hungry
bad
wolves.
She only
wanted
to be
free,
run
through
the
fields;
eat
whenever
she felt
like it.
She did
not want
to obey
orders
and have
someone
looking
after
her
shoulder.
Poor
thing! |
In the next day,
the good
shepherd noticed
that one sheep
was missing. He
has counted and
counted, but
there were only
ninety nine of
them!
He was very said
and concerned,
so he decided to
leave the others
in a safe place
and go find the
missing sheep.
He walked;
walked and
walked…He has
searched
everywhere she
used to hide,
but nothing! He
searched through
the fields,
hills and the
rivers, but
could not find
her.
When he gave up
trying, he ended
up finding her!
He was so happy!
However, the
sheep had
slipped in the
rocks and fell
into a whole in
the middle of a
thorn bush. She
was injured and
tired of
screaming for
help. The poor
thing was
suffering as she
was feeling
cold, hungry and
thirsty.
The sheep was
very happy when
she saw that the
good shepherd
came to rescue
her. She
regretted
running away
from home.
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The good man
then gave her
water and
treated her
injuries.
Afterwards, he
carefully took
her on his arms
and headed
home.
When the
shepherd got
home, he was so
happy that he
called
neighbours and
friends, saying:
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“Look, I’ve
found my lost
sheep! Share
this happiness
with me. Thank
God she is well
and safe.” |
The sheep was
very happy for
being back home
safe and
healthy, never
again she
thought of
running away.
She understood
that our home is
the best place
to live!
This parable was
told by Jesus in
order to show us
how benevolent
is God, our
Father.
Jesus is the
shepherd, always
taking good care
of us, and we
are his sheep.
If we get away
from Jesus, we
will only find
suffering,
danger and
misery.
Sometimes, as
happened to the
sheep, we also
wish to run away
from home or
from our duties,
from our daddy
or mommy when
they correct our
misbehaviour.
However…all they
do is for our
own good.
This parable
shows that Jesus
is always going
to be there for
us. Does not
matter what we
have done, we
will always have
the opportunity
to regret and
change our
attitude. As the
good shepherd,
Jesus will
always care for
us.
If we act this
way, we will
make our beloved
ones very happy:
our family,
friends, angel
guards – who are
enlightened
Spirits that
protect us - and
also Jesus, who
is our best
friend.
(Adapted from
The Lost Sheep
parable, from
Matthew, 18:12
to 14, and Luke,
15: 3 to 7.)
Aunt Celia
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