Feeding Sheep

Our grandson Ethan is old enough to be in 4-H this year. He has sheep for his project. A person can learn a lot feeding sheep.

My pictures of our activities this week probably won't be relevant to a sheep feeding story.

Walter was a sheep farmer and drove AC tractors. I was a freshman in high school and was in need of some income. On the way to Walter's house to ask him for a job I told my dad I thought I was worth $1.50/hour. Walter invited us in for soft Archway cookies and Pepsi. Walter seemed somewhat interested and asked my father what I would charge. When my dad suggested $2/hour I thought the visit was over. Walter said, when can he start?

 When I came to feed the sheep one afternoon after school about ten days into my new job I found Walter's two prize bucks both dead. They had been penned separately in a dark corner of the barn and when Walter had showed me how to chore he didn't  mention the prized bucks so I was assuming he was taking care of them. Well never assume. I had to go tell Walter the bad news. 

 Walter accepted my news with grace. He told me to get the bucks out with the D17 and bury them. He got out the Archway cookies and Pepsi. That coffee time started a tradition and relationship that lasted three years. I got the ground prepared and Walter planted the crops. Preparing the ground for planting included spring plowing with a D17 and 4 bottom plow, disking with a 12' Kewanee disk, and harrowing twice. It's no wonder those old timers never planted before May 15.

 One afternoon after coffee time Walter said we were going to go out and shoot rabbits since they were eating his garden. My job was to stand by the fence so they wouldn't run under it. Watching Walter load his double barrel 10 gauge could have been a scene from the movie, Secondhand Lions. As a rabbit slowly hopped by Walter raised his gun and fired. There was a louder explosion than I had ever heard before and the kick from the shotgun knocked Walter right on his behind. As I hurried over to check on my boss the rabbit slowly hopped back under the fence.

One evening during my Junior year of high school I hurried over to Walter's to chore before Young Peoples.  I noticed Walter's car was home but the house was dark. I was uncomfortable as I fed the sheep. I went to the house and knocked on the door. No answer. I stepped on the porch and knocked on the kitchen door. I could hear both the radio and TV were on. No answer. As I peeked in the kitchen door I could see Walter had died in his chair listening to the markets on the radio and watching the Watergate hearings on TV. The Archway cookies and Pepsi were on the table. The sheep went to town and my sheep feeding days for Walter were over.

Caring for sheep can be a challenge. They tend to be dependent and need a leader. Yet they can be stubborn and misbehaving. While our Lord was on earth He used the sheep analogy many times in His parables and teachings. Still today He cares for you and me, His sheep, and loves us unconditionally inspite of the challenges we can be.

Shortly after His resurrection Christ asked Peter if he loved Him. When Peter said he did Christ asked Peter to feed His sheep. Peter ended up being killed for the cause. Today our Lord asks us if we love Him. If we truely do we need to feed His sheep.