The Advent Calendar is over

Day 20 - Shepherds
Gentle Enough
Shepherds – Reflections
By Shuna Dicks




Gentle enough.

Shepherds are tough hard working people. Those of us who watched the BBC documentary following the lives of Scottish farmers were left in no doubt of the longs hours worked in all weathers. This is no job for the feint hearted.

When my children were small I had a babysitter, who was one of six daughters all of whom were expected to help their mum and dad during lambing season. I leaned that having school or work the next day was no excuse for not getting up to help a struggling ewe. Everyone had to muck in and take their turn.

Unlike my babysitter, the shepherds on the hillside above Bethlehem did not have comfy beds to climb back into. They not only took care of their sheep; they lived with their sheep on the hillside, protecting them from bandits and wild animals. It was only a year or two ago that someone pointed out to me that whilst our modern-day farmers guide their sheep from behind – the shepherds of ancient Israel led their sheep from the front. The bond between sheep and shepherd was a strong one. The sheep had to trust their shepherd. The shepherd had to be gentle enough to be trusted by his sheep.

The significance of the special place given to shepherds in the nativity story should not be lost. They were invited by the angels to share in one of the most precious moments. The shepherds were witnesses to THE Shepherd’s birth. Deemed gentle enough to be there. These hard working, tough men – gentle enough.

The image of Jesus as the shepherd of God’s people is one of gentleness, of care giving and of love for his flock. Each Christmas we are reminded of the place given to shepherds in Christ’s story. We are reminded of the simple trust these men put in the tiny baby they went to visit – because they were gentle enough.

As we approach the Nativity Story this Christmas may we ask ourselves: Do we show the same care and love for God’s flock? Are we gentle enough to be trusted by the lost sheep of today? Are you? Are you gentle enough?

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