Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Parable of the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18) (02/15/24)
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TITLE: Shepherding the Shepherds | Previous Challenge Entry
By Em Bonja
02/21/24 -
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Our house was soon to come alive
With our 20-month-old grandson’s visit.
He’d bring a zest for life to us;
He’d won our hearts, I must admit it.
Immediately, something was off,
He was warm and ate no food
But we were not alarmed as yet,
Though all felt not as I thought it should.
Later, it became quite clear
That he needed some medication.
After it, he ate and played,
Then napped with no hesitation.
When he awoke, Tylenol was due,
But his stomach convulsed violently.
We called 9-1-1 as I held him up,
I prayed aloud, then silently.
Suddenly, his body changed,
He had a total seizure.
I still held him as he thrashed about,
I used my words to reassure.
He stiffened and stretched out
As I tipped him on his side.
I soothed him with his precious name,
He went limp---I feared he’d died.
In that brief, horrific moment,
I knew deep in my heart
That only God knew what to do,
I could do only my small part.
Two vehicles arrived to help,
We climbed aboard the ambulance.
I saw fear come into his eyes,
His lips quivered as the truck advanced.
He hung on and refused to cry,
He listened to my familiar voice.
I repeated his name many times
As I saw him make a choice.
As he heard me and relaxed his face,
He paused to look around.
He took in every detail
And he never made a sound.
We stepped into the hospital
Where his parents of course came.
They gently took him in their arms
And whispered his own sweet name.
He gradually became alert
As he heard his parents say,
We love you; we’re so thankful
God cared for you today.
That night, I laid my head down
And reviewed what had occurred,
With tears of thanks and great relief,
I realized how we had endured:
While we all shepherded Matthew
Through that long and arduous day,
God faithfully shepherded us
We heard him as we prayed.
His shepherding is sometimes hidden
While we hold on and do our part.
We go beyond our own strength
While God does the miraculous part.
John 10:3b: “He calls his own sheep by name.”
John 10:4b: “The sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
John 10:27: “My sheep listen to my voice.”
A completely true story, which happened last week
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