Savior

Lightning streaks across the black, stormy skies, swiftly followed by a thunderous roar. The world illuminates for a brief moment, only to plunge back into darkness, indeed, worse darkness than before. Light only shows the shadows that surround and pervade the landscape this night. It shimmers off the cruel rain and hail that pelt me as I lie there shivering, weak, and helpless.

I don't know why I ran away. Actually, I never ran, I console myself. I just stayed while my brothers and sisters moved on. I delighted in the grass that surrounded me, the gorgeous sunset amplified by the grand puffy clouds. I was entranced in the beauty of my world. Had I not right to be so immersed in God's glory? I had no idea I would be out here, cold and alone. I walked about, sure of myself, trotted and pranced even. But the night drew on and the cold rain fell. I panicked and ran. Worse, I ran off a cliff and fell, spraining my ankle. I found myself on a ledge over an even deeper canyon; the only solace I have that God is watching me. If I fell the whole way, I would surely not be here now, cold and alone. But that solace does not bring me peace now. I huddle in a small ball, trying to fight against the elements, but without much success.

A sound! Scrabbling of rocks and the brush-brush of feet through grass. No, paws, surely they are paws moving above me. Oh, how my mother would tell me stories of the predatory creatures which roam here: the sly wolves and coyotes, the mighty bears and lions. Am I to see these fairy tales come to life? With teeth and claws they come, hungering for my meat, desiring to rend me and tear me, to make me nought. I am lost! Lost I say!

Lightning shoots across the horizen, and I search around frantically, wishing to see my hunter, yet also hoping no one hunts me. A movement! A flash of muscle and hair, coming over the cliff, coming towards me. Doomed! Doomed am I! How foolish I was, and my folly will find its end in this dark night. I cry out, summoning the tiny strength I have left, barely enough to scramble my limbs in a clumsy hurry-flurry. I am touched! A claw has found home, surely! A maw, grim and fierce grasps my hind legs and holds me against my will. Surely, this is the end.

But lo, a voice speaks behind me. "Little lamb, my child, my loved, soothe your fears. Hush hush hush, I am here, your shepherd, the one who raised you through weal and woe, though health and disease, green pasture and dry scrub." At once my soul sings in relief. My master! My lord! I bleat and baa, in tired rejoicing. My hooves cease their scurrying as his hands wrap around me. He hangs me over his shoulder and carries me up off my ledge, up to freedom and open plains again, away from the deep pit below. The rain still batters against my soaked and soggy fleece, but I feel it hardly at all. I am back again with my shepherd, my guide, my only hope in this dark time. I am his lamb and he my master. May I never leave him nor forsake him as long as I shall live.

This I Offer To You

My Jessica, you told me that stories are the way to your heart. I knew this, even before you said it. To be completely honest with you, the day I asked you for romantic pictures you liked, I was looking for pictures to use as the main header for this blog. This is a gift to you, out of the depths of my heart. From time to time, I will put up stories that come to my mind. Not all of them will be about us, but they will all be stories that flow from my heart, and all gifts to please you and interest you. Enjoy, my heart. I wish you well, during our time apart.