Throughout Yeshua’s gospels we are lovingly compared with sheep. We aren’t called lions, wolves, sharks, or any other tough sports mascot. We’re called sheep.
Sheep worry. And it can kill them. Their “fight or flight” response to danger shocks their immune system so badly that can die in a matter of days. There are news reports of over a hundred sheep dying in a single event. There’s a term for it, “Sheep Worry”.
We found this out the hard way earlier this Spring. Our bottle fed Kóri ram (shown here) had finally graduated to the pasture and started integrating with the other sheep when one of our dogs accidentally got loose and went under the gate into the pasture.
Dogs can be great with sheep- but they need to be raised with them to know how to herd them without causing stress.
Kóri was nipped in a couple of places. Had this been a dog or even a cat, he would’ve pulled through quickly. But not a sheep. Our tail wagging lamb shut down for more than a week. His eyelids turned from pink to white as his body went into shock and he lost the ability to stand.
One thing we’ve learned over these past few years is how difficult sheep are to merely keep alive. Our family has learned so much from books, friends, online groups, and just spending time with them. We’ve found there are a lot of parallels with how our own bodies work- especially the lessons we’ve learned for special needs individuals. There is an extremely fine balance with gut health, minerals, probiotics and vitamins. If that balance is disrupted the parasites, toxins or inflammation take over and the sheep go down quickly.
Thankfully in this case with close care and attention, Kóri pulled through after a week. He is still running around with his bright eyes and tail wagging.
We are weak. Trauma and stress are very real and not to be minimized or glorified.
The chemicals they release in our body cause real damage especially if left unchecked over time. In the US, most of us have been sheltered from that. Many on this earth have lived trauma daily.
We are weak, but our Creator knows our limits and cares deeply for us.
Yeshua doesn’t tell us we will be free of problems, pain or trauma. His disciples were hunted, tortured and publicly executed. The days are hard. However, his disciples are still called to love and continue to trust in their Father. The solid Rock foundation allows us by His strength to take issues, delays, questions, trauma without being a direct challenge to the core of who we are. I truly believe He has prepared good works for each of us to walk through (Eph 2:10). Sometimes though we can only survive day by day. And... that’s ok. That’s all we’re called to do. “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
I’m thankful I’m not expected to be a lion or wolf. I’m thankful for a kind and gentle Shepherd that has remained true at the times when all else has been burned away.
And I’m thankful that Kóri is ok :)
Here is an updated photo of Kóri from this year.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:24–34 (ESV)
Comments