image via dailyrecordnews.com

A “bummer lamb” is rejected by her mother, so tries to “bum” milk from other ewes, who too reject her. The bummer lamb may have been rejected for being different, the runt, or the third of a triplet.  The mother ewe will kick the lamb away. The lamb will die without milk

But…

The Good Shepherd is on the look out for bummer sheep (Lk 15:4). He will take a bummer lamb from the flock and hand feeds the lamb sometimes 5 times a day (Is 40:11).  The Good Shepherd talks to the lamb and once a day holds the lamb to his chest so she can hear the Good Shepherd’s heartbeat (John 10:14).  Eventually the bummer lamb can be introduced back to the flock (John 10:9) and yet the bummer lamb will always be the first to come running when the Good Shepherd calls because she recognizes His voice (John 10:27).

image via fromtheheartofj

Aren’t we all bummer sheep? In need of His reassuring presence with us? Knowing we are connected Heart-to-heart? Hearing His voice as His grace feeds us? It is the bummer sheep who know the Good Shepherd most intimately…and who follow Him most obediently.We are bummer sheep when we recognize our brokenness…our littlenss…our need for Him.

“As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep.  I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cludy and dark.” Ez 34:12

A Real Bummer Lamb!

http://youtu.be/5MtzNkd2Zl4