Within a pretty meadow green,
Where all was bright around,
Some very happy little sheep
Were feeding on the ground.
They nibbled up the sweet, soft grass,
They drank the water clear;
Their shepherd kept them safe from harm,
They never knew a fear.
But once, a naughty little sheep
Got weary of its home,
Disliked to stay within the fold,
And so he wished to roam,—
To leave his loving shepherd’s side,
And wander right away,
To go wherever he should choose,
No longer to obey!
He heeded not the shepherd’s voice,
But disobeyed his word,
And left the happy pasture-land
To wander in the world.
At first he thought it very nice
Whilst all around was bright;
He played about so merrily—
But soon came on the night!
The darkness thickened round his way,
He could not see ahead,
And though it was so very cold
He had no sheltered bed.
Poor little lamb! what will you do
‘Mid darkness, cold, and frost?
You chose to wander from your home,
And now you’re lost! yes! lost!
But as he stood there helplessly,
In fear at every sound.
He thought lie heard a footstep near,
Resounding on the ground.
O! could it be the shepherd kind,
With whom he would not stay,
The one from whom he’d wandered so,
And dared to disobey?
Yes, matchless love! ‘twas really he;
In search of that stray sheep,
A long and weary way he’d trod,
A thorny path and steep!
Yet when the little wanderer found
The shepherd drawing near,
His little heart went pit-a-pat,
And he was full of fear.
He knew he had so naughty been
In choosing thus to stray,
To one who’d caused him so much toil
What would the shepherd say?
But hark! in tenderest accents soft
He speaks to him in grace,
And lifts him in his powerful arms,
And whispers to him “Peace.”
And then on his strong shoulders, firm
He sets him with delight,
And bears him safely home with him,
Where never can be night.
Do you know who the shepherd was
Who went to fetch the sheep,
Who loved it, though it wandered thus,
With love so strong and deep?
‘Twas Jesus—Jesus Christ the Lord—
Who sought the straying one,
And laid him near His loving heart,
And pardoned all he’d done.
So we will praise our Saviour-God,
And thank Him for such grace.
He’ll surely bear us safely home,
Till we shall see His face.
We then shall bless Him ever there
With naught to mar our song;
We’ll sing His love in seeking-us.
Through endless ages long.
ML 05/21/1939