Hello Bravehearted Beauties! How is your heart this morning? I wish you could sit in the cozy chair across from me and tell me in person. {Aslan would be at your feet, and is no doubt shedding all over the skirt of that lovely slipcovered chair while he snoozes. He doesn’t even have to move to shed! Wink!}
I woke up feeling sad this morning, but just moments ago, my heart was rescued. And it only took a few words. So before I head out to the barn, I have to share a quick story that may bring a needed rescue to your heart, too. I was sitting here with my big cup of coffee, staring out the window at the dewy, sun sprinkled pasture, when I saw Buddy, followed by Lily, followed by Bella, coming up the hill. A line of three, when usually there are four. I felt glad to see Lily in the middle, with a shepherd both in front and behind her. Talk about protection! {And something I’ve learned from the lambs: they don’t go ahead of their shepherd. How I’d love to be more like them!}
But then I felt a sudden sadness because I know Lily isn’t meant to be alone. {Sheep are herd animals. They really need another like them.} Lily is very obviously feeling the loss of her sister. I’m quite sure her little lamb heart is crying inside, and mine is when I look out there and see just one lamb. {I think we’ll need to make a decision soon. Though I’m pretty sure this farm is meant to have sheep. Read John 10 to see what I mean. And our farm name: Ten 10 Farm.}
As I sat there by the window, my Bible was sitting within arm’s reach, which doesn’t mean I always open it. {I too often go weeks without touching it.} But this morning, I grabbed it, cracked it open with one hand to see where it landed. And this is what I read:
Can you believe it? I thought of Lavender first, then Lily…then my own heart. I am God’s little lamb, and so are you. If your heart is sinking and you’re in need of a rescue this morning, I hope you’ll find comfort in these words. You are gathered in God’s arms and carried close to his heart.
PINIT“Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock, gathering the lambs in his arms, hugging them as he carries them.” {From The Message.}
I’m off to the barn and then to counseling. Thankful for a swift heart rescue before I head into my day. After all these years, God still amazes me with His timing! I hope He’ll amaze you today, too.
Hugs to you, Bravehearted Beauties!
Julie - Hi Linsey – Thank you for sharing this! I have tears in my eyes… just what I needed to read this morning. Blessings to you and your family!
Amy Avery - Linsey, I have followed your heart wrenching journey with Lavender and have wanted to send a message each time you have updated, but something pulled me away physically and emotionally too. First I will say that I have prayed for you and for Lavender and felt the grief of your loss. It is so very difficult to see our sweet beloved animals suffer and pass away. I believe God does indeed grow our hearts through breaking them open when we love and care for his beloved animals and all of creation. And in breaking our hearts open, we are able to glean a picture of what it is like for Him as he loves and shepherds us. He chose YOU to be in this place on the farm and in your saying “Yes,” He has pulled you nearer to his heart over and over again.
When I read this post that you published this morning, I knew it was time for me to write to you as God has been nudging me to do. I have been in a difficult place in my life in knowing where God is leading me. I have resolved myself to know that my desire to know has become an unintentional idol. SO again I lifted my head and heart to HIM to just trust and to allow whatever is meant to be to occur in his timing. Unrelated to my desire to just know, I have also suffered from a recurrence of depression which you so accurately described in one of your posts recently. I have felt suffocated by sadness and have hurt so very deeply as I have trudged through the motions of life as if weights were tied to all of my extremities and a thick blanket was draped over my head. I have heard God’s assurance that he is with me and will carry me through this time of sadness and I have seen that light to pull me out through simple trust.
Today, I received many different gifts of affirmation from God including your post that has helped me to feel that this period of sadness is coming to an end. I am writing to you now as a way of acknowledging that I have received these gifts of hope and love that come only from the Good Shepherd who so lovingly carries us in every single moment of our lives.
Thank you Linsey for allowing God’s light to shine through you. Your posts mean so much to so many because they allow God’s love to touch the hearts of his beloved and to give them life giving and life affirming hope.
Jamie - Goosebumps! I needed that today. Thank you for sharing.
emi - Linsey, I too have wanted to post a comment to your posts on Lavender . I just didn’t have the words. Know I am praying for you all. From the C S Lewis words to seeing Lavender’s pictures , especially your husband “gathering” Lavender in his arms…. It is to His glory how God is ministering to you. Lots of love to you Linsey and to your family..
Dianne - Thank you for always being so honest. It is refreshing and so very helpful to many. xo
Adrienne - Thank you for that beautiful scripture this morning. Helped me too :). And that cute pic!