After a long summer spent in the high mountain meadow, the Shepherd herded his sheep once again into the dark valley to make the long journey back home.
The sheep were scared of the dark valley, but they were reassured by their Shepherd’s presence. Their good Shepherd followed them all the way down from the mountains.
The fall winds blew in cold and rain. The Shepherd hurried the sheep at last to the small pasture and stable they had left behind when they had traveled into the mountains for the summer. Before the winter snow began to fall, the Shepherd had all his sheep tucked into their stable with lots of hay to keep them fed and straw to keep them warm. He lived in the stable with them, watching over them as he always did.
While the winter blizzards howled around their stable and blasted snow against the boards, the sheep were content. They were safe from the winter, safe from the dark valley, safe from the wolves and snakes, and safe from the flies that had annoyed them in the summer heat.
They were happy to spend their days in the Shepherd’s home.
Questions to think about:
- Read Psalm 23:6, 27:4 and John 14:2–3 by yourself or with your parents. What home do we want to dwell in forever? Is this only in heaven or do we experience this on earth too?
- How does God’s mercy and goodness follow us all the days of our lives?
Author’s Note: Inspiration for this series on Psalm 23 came from Phillip Keller’s short book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.