Lately, I have been thinking constantly about Luke 2:8, which reads, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.” (NIV)
I cannot remember a time when I was not ranching. When I was very young, Dad would let me skip school each year on the day that we sheared the sheep. I had an old yellow felt hat on which I put a brand every year we sheared. When I was in college, I would bring friends to help us shear sheep. Brent Beasley, now pastor of Second Baptist, Memphis, helped us shear sheep when he was a TBC intern. I regret that we finally had to stop raising sheep because the bobcats ate more of them than we could keep alive.
I still have a few goats at our place south of San Angelo, near Christoval, where we are building our “final” home. This past Sunday afternoon, I was feeding the 30 cows when Loretta called to tell me that a red nanny had given birth to three kid goats next to the barn (just over the fence), and that I should come and see them.
When I got there, two of the three were standing up. I helped the third one get on its feet, but I noticed that, while the mother ate the corn I had put out, she would not let the kids suck when I put them next to her. However, they would suck my fingers. I commented to Loretta that I didn’t think the Momma was going to let them suck and that we needed to get some powered goat milk to give them before the cold front hit. Unfortunately, it was already after 5:00 p.m., and I knew there was no place to buy milk that late on Sunday.
In hindsight, I realize I should have brought them into the barn to stay warm until I could get some milk for them the next morning, but I was still hoping their Momma would let them suck. Daddy always said that if a lamb or kid sucked, they would make it no matter how cold it got, because the milk would keep them warm.
Again, in hindsight, I know that I did not “keep watch over my flock by night.”
The next morning, it was 26 degrees with a wind chill of 11 degrees (welcome to Texas – it was 82 when the babies were born the day before), and I looked out the window and saw the mother walking up the fence. Not seeing any little kid goats where they had been the night before, I told Loretta, “I think she moved them into the brush and they are okay.”
As I left for work, I stopped by where they were born – about 100 yards from the barn – and found that two of the kids were already dead and one barely alive. I took the one who was still alive to the barn and put him on a piece of old carpet with a heater in front of him. Then I drove to the feed store to buy milk. When I returned, I tried and tried to get the kid to suck, but he never would try very much. I massaged his throat and could feel him swallowing a little. But after 2 hours, I had to give up and realize that the little billy kid was gone.
Each day now, I watch the red nanny walk around in circles where her kids were born, wondering where her babies are.
The angels told the shepherds who were watching over those flocks by night that something very special had happened. Then the shepherds decided to go see for themselves. The Scriptures tell us, “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”
The shepherds were watching their flocks by night, and God was watching over His flock, too, when He sent Jesus to us. So let me ask you: Who do you love so much that you would – or do – keep watch over them by night? Have you told them how much you care?
Who do you know that feels that they do not matter? Don’t they need for you to tell them that Jesus was born specifically because they matter to God and to you?
If you know of someone who needs a loving word from you, don’t put off letting them know that you care, because one day you’ll wake up and find that it’s too late. This poor Momma kid probably felt overwhelmed with three new kids, but they needed her, and now they’re gone. Look around you – there are people around you who need to know that someone cares . . . that God cares. Love them now, while there’s still time.
Whatever flock God has given you, watch over them, and tell them and others how much you care about them and, more importantly, how much Jesus cares about them.
And remember – Jesus cares about you personally. Spread His love to those around you. Merry Christmas.