As A Shepherd Carries A Lamb, I Have Carried You Close To My Heart

April 8

Isaiah 40:11 “ He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”

My son, my third child, came into my life when he was six months old.  His two older sisters were four and two when they became part of my life.  While I missed out on all the sleepless nights, bottle feedings, and diaper changes with them, I was able to experience all of those things with my son.  I soon discovered all of these things took a great deal of energy and that a full night’s sleep was something that didn’t happen very often.  Certainly, that was a busy stage, and it was a stage where I often felt exhausted at the end of the day.  

However, there was something from that stage that I very much enjoyed doing.  After bathing him and preparing a bottle, I would take my son downstairs to his room and rock him in the rocking chair while he quietly drank from the bottle.  As he drank, he would look up at me with his big blue eyes, and I would look back at him with intense feelings of love and admiration.  His little body fit perfectly into my arms, and he was content without a care in the world.  Often I would sing “You are My Sunshine” or “Jesus Loves Me,” and he would snuggle in more closely.  There were many nights I would hold him long after he fell asleep knowing those days would not last forever.  I knew there would come a time when he wouldn’t fit in my arms, and I would no longer be rocking him to sleep.  So, I cherished those nights as long as I could.  Holding him.  Drawing him close to me.  Protecting him.  Loving him.  I didn’t know it was possible to love so intensely and deeply until I had children.

These memories help bring more meaning and understanding to today’s verse.  What a beautiful picture of God caring for His people.  God is portrayed as a Shepherd caring for His flock.  Take some time to imagine this.  God, our loving and faithful Shepherd, reaches down and gently picks us up.  He pulls us in close, and we feel the beating of His heart.  We are safe in His arms, and He protects us so that we can rest unafraid and be at peace in His loving arms.  When we walk close to God, we recognize His voice and know that we are loved and protected by Almighty God.  The Creator and Ruler of the universe - the One who made all things - knows us, loves us, and carries us close to His heart.  What love the Father has for us!