OUTDOOR TRUTHS: Bummer Lambs

By Gary Miller

I live only a few hundred yards from national park property. Needless to say, deer roam my neighborhood. Every winter, if it snows or if we have an extended cold period, I feed deer in my front yard. It’s pretty neat to open your shades and see several deer munching away at the goodies I leave them. What I’ve noticed over the years is that there is always one doe among the herd, who is pushed away, run off, and not allowed close to the rest. This one doe ends up only getting a few kernels that she finds on the outskirts. Since I know this is going to happen, I always sling a little feed far enough away so she can get a little of what the rest of the bullies are enjoying. This shun in the animal world is common.

And unfortunately, it happens to humans as well. Let me give you another illustration. Sometimes a ewe will push away her newborn lamb. This may happen because she had twins or triplets, because the lamb is too small, or because they simply don’t bond. This lamb is called a bummer lamb.  A bummer lamb will wander, cry, and slowly weaken, because without a mother’s milk and warmth, it can’t survive. When the shepherd notices this occurrence, he gathers up the lamb, brings it inside, warms it by the fire, bottle feeds it, and literally holds it to his chest so it hears a heartbeat again. He becomes its source of life. After a week or so, the lamb grows stronger and eventually can be returned to the flock. But for the rest of its life, something special happens. Whenever the shepherd calls for his sheep, the bummer lamb is the first one to run to him, because it knows his voice more clearly than all the others. It remembers who saved it.

The truth is, many of us would consider ourselves bummer lambs. Rejection has followed us throughout our lives. For some of you, rejection came very early in life. It came from parents, family, or friends. I am especially thinking about those children who live their lives in foster homes. I have loved on these bummer babies myself and my heart breaks for them. The good news for all of us is this. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. And He takes in every bummer lamb, and loves them so much, they become the first to recognize His voice and run to His presence. The shepherd doesn’t love these lambs more than the others, it’s just that the ones who have been radically rescued never forget the One who carried them. They never forget the warmth, safety, and heartbeat of the One that told them they were loved and wanted.  And because of that, they stay close. Not out of fear, but out of gratitude.

No matter what your life has endured up to now, know that Jesus is your good shepherd, and He wants you, and He’s coming after you.

Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 23 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Stay updated on Outdoor Truths each week by subscribing at Outdoortruths.org. Miller can be reach via email at gary@outdoortruths.org.