The shepherd theme wasn’t satisfied with the “Fear Not” quilt for my friend. What image captures the “Good Shepherd” for me? I couldn’t get this old hymn out of my head:
The king of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his, and he is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul he leadeth,
and where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, and yet in love he sought me,
and on his shoulders gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me.
In death’s dark vale I fear no ill, with thee, dear Lord, beside me.
Thy rod and staff my comfort still, the cross before to guide me.
Thou spreadst a table in my sight; thy unction grace bestoweth;
and oh, what transport of delight from thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days, thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise within thy house forever.
With that, I launched into round 2--especially thinking about the abundant daily provision of every need and those strong hands that get perverse sheep (namely, moi) back into the fold.
My Good Shepherd is kind of a denim cowboy--not to be irreverent, but he does need to get his hands dirty (for which I am very grateful).
