"But all through the mountains, thunder riven, And up from the rocky steep, There arose a glad cry to the gates of Heaven, `Rejoice, I have found My sheep!'
And the angels echoed around the throne, Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”
From a rich baritone voice came the song ringing out on the frosty air of the late October morning. The hills and valley, catching the words and melody, sent back in triumphant echo―"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own.”
Around a bend of one of the hillside roads appeared the singer, tall and strong, carrying in his arms the sheep he had spent the hours of night seeking. The animal was trembling with cold. The man looked at it with a smile, saying, "You poor sheep, why did you wander away? Did you think the rocks and the stones on the bleak hills were more nourishing than the green grass in the valley? Did you think you were safer among the wolves than with your comrades in the sheepfold? Why did you turn your back on your shepherd who never turned his back on you?”
Here he paused as he discovered a man standing near one of the buildings, a young man, showing plainly the marks of dissipation and riotous living. He looked him over and then asked:
"Who are you?”
"Who? Me? I am nobody.”
"Where are you from?”
"Everywhere.”
"Where are you bound for?”
"Anywhere.”
"Where do you belong?”
"Nowhere.”
"Do you want employment?”
"I would be glad of a job if I could only get away from my present boss, for whom I have worked faithfully for years.”
"And, pray, who is your boss?”
"Satan.”
"Does he pay good wages?”
"Good wages? No, but big wages, yes.”
"What kind of wages?”
"Hunger enough for a dozen men. Rags, desolation, shattered nerves, ruined character and a burning appetite for the thing that brought about my ruin.”
The shepherd dropped his head in deep thought and said to himself: "I've spent half the night in trying to rescue a four-legged sheep. Dare I drive this two-legged one from my door, and make no effort to save him?”
Looking up he said to the tramp: "You look to me as if you could eat some breakfast. How is it?”
The young man was evidently moved by the kindness of the tone of voice in which the invitation was given. He straightened up and said: "Thank you, sir. I am very hungry, but I am not deserving of such kindness.”
"Young man," was the reply, "I never turned a hungry man from my door, and I never will, by God's grace.”
After putting the sheep in the fold with the others, the shepherd led the young man up to the house where Mrs. West stood in the doorway to greet her husband. His coming she had known when she heard, a half hour before, the welcome news, "Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own," ringing out throughout the valley. After both men had washed, they sat down to the table to eat the bountiful breakfast, Robert West having very reverently asked the Lord's blessing.
While Mr. West gave his wife an account of his search for the lost sheep, their guest ate as only a hungry man can. Plainly, he was thinking as well as eating, and thinking too, with a purpose, as tears trickled down his cheeks.
When the meal was over the host read from the fifteenth chapter of Luke the parable of the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son, and offered up an earnest supplication for all wandering ones. During this prayer the young man, kneeling with the others, was deeply moved. At the close when Robert West and his wife sang, "Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!" the wanderer sobbed aloud.
"Friend," he said, "for nearly two years I have tramped hither and thither with the shadow of my wretched self falling on the path ahead of me. This morning, bowing at your altar, I acknowledged my sin and put my trust in Him who has promised to save `unto the uttermost." Sir, the shadow of myself is behind me since I have turned my face and heart to the light, and I ask your prayers and help that God will strengthen and keep me till journey's end. It was His will that you should bring back to the fold this wandering sheep, as well as the one you brought back earlier this morning.”
With tears streaming down their cheeks, the three could now sing together: "Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”