A POOR Italian shepherd one day lost a lamb. He spent a whole day searching for it, and had to return footsore and weary without it. General Garibaldi and his staff had ridden out far from the camp that day, and were returning, when they overtook the downcast shepherd.
“Why do you look so downcast?” asked the General.
“Because I have lost a lamb and I have failed to find it,” replied the shepherd.
“We must find it for him,” said Garibaldi to his staff, and off they rode, himself with them, hunting hill and valley for the lost lamb, but without avail. Darkness came down, and they had to return to the camp. Garibaldi was an early riser, usually up before his officers, but the morning following the search for the lamb, his servant was astonished to find him in bed.
When he awoke, he said to his servant, “Send for that shepherd,” and still kept his bed. The shepherd came and was taken to the General’s tent.
“Well, have you found your lost lamb?” he asked the shepherd.
“No sir,” was the answer.
Unwrapping his military cloak, Garibaldi said— “Look here.” And when the shepherd looked, he saw the missing lamb asleep within its folds.
“I determined not to give up, so after the camp was at rest, I went out and sought until I found it.” How thankful the poor shepherd was, and how he loved Garibaldi for that act.
I know of One greater than Garibaldi, who went out in a darker night, over mountains wild and bare, seeking for the lost one. His Name is Jesus. He came to seek and to save the lost. Has He found you and laid you in His bosom? There He carries all His lambs. No boy or girl ever perished who was folded to His bosom. Are you quite sure that you are there? If not, you are lost.
ML-04/07/1935