Inspiration

"There is a story of sweetness and beauty which enlightens the heart of every parent who has lost a child. It concerns a custom among the shepherd folk of the Alps. In the summertime when the grass in the lowervalleys withers and dries up, the shepherds seek to lead their sheep upa winding, thorny, and stony pathway to the high grazing lands. The sheep, reluctant to take the difficult pathway infested with dangers andhardships, turn back and will not follow. Finally a shepherd reaches into the flock and takes a little lamb and places it under his arm, thenreaches in again and takes another lamb, placing it under the other arm. Then he starts up the precipitous pathway. Soon the mother sheep start to follow and afterward the entire flock. At last they ascend the tortuous trail to green pastures."The Great Shepherd of the sheep, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, has reached into the flock andHe has picked up your lamb. He did not do it to rob you, but to lead you out and upward. He has richer and greener pastures for you, and He wants you to follow."J. Vernon Magee