Lessons from a Sheepdog

If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know I am an avid animal lover. Not surprisingly, my ministry title includes an animal. Ewe R Blessed plays off the word “ewe,” referring to a female sheep. If you are interested in why I chose this ministry title, visit my website at http://ewerblessed.com. I am excited to share from the category of Lessons from a Sheep, except that it will be Lessons from a Sheepdog – two of my favorite animals.

What Can a Sheepdog Possibly Teach Us?

Let’s learn the answer from the story of Lass in “Lessons from a Sheep Dog” written by Phillip Keller. Coming from a harsh background with chains around her neck and feet, Lass’s new owner, a sheep rancher in British Columbia, looked past the dirty coat and the low snarls to see beauty and purpose. Lass was destined to be destroyed if she were not rehomed. All she needed was to be unshackled and placed under the care of the right person.

Though initially resistant, Lass learned to trust in her master. This trust was essential to her welfare. She had to decide if she would agree to be controlled. Would she place her life into her master’s hands rather than pursue dangerous and unexplored desires?

Lass’s new master required her to follow his commands. She had to trust that he knew what was best for her safety and that of the sheep. Because of her limitations as a dog, she could not see beyond her height and had to believe the vision of her master, who could see ahead. Sometimes, her master sent her into challenging places to round up the flock, causing her to get scratches on her face, burs in her fur, and cuts on her feet. But she obeyed despite the suffering, building affection through her faith and devotion.

At first, the touch of the master was uncertain to Lass. Unaccustomed to unconditional love, Lass leaped out of his arms when embraced. Only with the reassurance of brushing her coat to free it from burs did Lass learn he truly cared for her. A mutual love exchange began that laid a bedrock of confidence and trust. 

With trust gained by his sheepdog, great responsibility was heaped upon her master – that of Lass’s happiness and contentment. She wanted to be with him all the time – like a shadow. She became a one-man dog to the point of refusing to eat when he was away.

The more time she spent in the field with her master, the more familiar she became with his voice. She listened to every word and followed each command. She even learned how to respond to hand signals from a distance. This meant that Lass always had to keep her sights on her master and be attentive to his requests.  

Obedience was at the heart of their success on the ranch. Unfortunately, as a two-year-old Border Collie, Lass had much to unlearn from her previous life. But her master taught her what to do with clear and concise instructions, which she did with joy and pleasure. When corrections had to be made, they were made with firm but gentle persuasion. Love requires discipline.   

Nothing pleased Lass more than to please her master. She wanted his approval. They became not only good working partners but also special friends.

Interestingly, the sheep learned that Lass meant them no harm; she was only carrying out the commands of her master. Under his guidance, a harmonious relationship developed between the sheep, Lass, and her shepherd master.   

As smooth as the ranch work seemed to be, distractions existed. Every spring, crows came to nest on the shoreline of the ranch. The crows tormented Lass with jeering “caws” and dives that skimmed over her head. Lass abandoned her duties to tear after them, racing over the fields. When she returned, she was exhausted. The distraction became a serious obstacle, causing Lass to break faith and deplete her energy for purposeful service.

There were other times in the dark of night that Lass proved her loyalty. With danger lurking to the sheep, Lass stood by her master’s side with no fear.  

Correlation from Sheepdog to You

I hope you enjoyed reading the true story of Lass. I also hope you detected many similarities between Lass and us. Did you grasp the master representing the Master? Perhaps the story is worth rereading with these things in mind.

“When we truly come to know His touch upon our lives, and sense the sweetness of His Spirit at work in our souls, we are liberated into joyous experiences and adventurous undertakings.” Well said, Phillip Keller.