The Winter Lamb

Recently, I treated myself to the theatre with a friend. Parky and I used to meet every Tuesday night after work to go to the dollar movie for date night. With theatre prices out of control these days and Netflix easily accessible, the dogs are happy for us to stay home. Plus, they get to enjoy the popcorn, too. We even put movie theatre oil on it! Anyway, Parky was out of town, so I went to see a wholesome, family-friendly movie titled The Sheep Detectives. I have a fondness for sheep, as you can tell from my ministry name and logo.

I learned a new term from the movie I had not heard before – winter lamb. The Sheep Detectives’ opening scene showed a small speckled lamb. He was identified as a winter lamb and was the shepherd’s favorite. The poor little thing was isolated and purposefully ignored by the flock. The only reason he is rejected is that he was born in the winter. That’s it! He’s different. Other lambs are born in late winter, spring, or early summer.

Winter lambs are born during the coldest months (January, February) and require special care. Only certain breeds are able to produce lambs outside of the usual breeding season. A sheep’s cycle can be triggered by shorter daylight hours, thus resulting in lamb births in the winter.

Raising lambs in the winter presents unique challenges. The newborns are wet when arriving, making them vulnerable to hypothermia. Their fat reserves are also limited, adding to the danger. The first few hours of life are critical, so exposure to sub-freezing temperatures can lead to death.

The fragile newborn requires careful hands-on attention. Immediate intake of colostrum is essential, or they lose body heat and energy. Draft-free shelters, insulated pens, feeding, hygiene, and health checks make all the difference for a winter lamb.

I almost cried in the movie when there was a storm. The winter lamb was curled up near a tree, soaking wet and scared, while the other sheep were in the barn. Why should he suffer so needlessly?

I wondered if a winter lamb was the same as a bummer lamb, so I researched it. The answer is “no,” they are not the same. Both are rejected, but there are differences as to why. Winter lambs are born in the off-season, while bummer lambs are orphaned or rejected by their mothers. You can read more about the bummer lamb in one of my previous blogs https://ewerblessed.com/the-bummer-lamb/.

As the movie progresses, Shepherd George is murdered. Hence, the sheep become detectives to solve the crime. Although the movie is not marketed as a Christian movie, it weaves in strong Christian themes including a conversation between a wise ram and two sheep about who God is. The ram’s responses are clever and comical.

A bad shepherd and a butcher in the movie appear to represent evil. George, the murder victim, is the good shepherd who loves his flock and they love him. They are sad at his passing and are concerned as to their fate. The winter lamb is like a Samaritan – outcasts among the Jews during the days of Jesus. The winter lamb (who was named George at the end of the movie) became a hero. He can be compared to the Good Samaritan in the Bible. He provides information that leads to the killer. But, as any good kids’ movie goes, other valuable lessons are taught.

I didn’t anticipate the Christian overtones in the movie, but I totally enjoyed its delivery. It got me thinking. Why are we so opposed to those who are different? Especially to those who have no control over their differences? Being born different happens all the time. Does it warrant shunning from those of us who claim to be believers in Christ? Of course not! In fact, our actions should be the complete opposite. We should show kindness and compassion.

In the end, the three young lambs skipping about the meadow invited little George to play with them. They had wanted to earlier but were told to leave the winter lamb alone – an example of innocence influenced by biased tradition.

The entire flock accepted him. Shepherd George’s death ultimately brought them altogether. Evil was recognized for what it was. Shepherd George’s daughter inherited the land and the flock. George’s merciful and loving care toward his sheep would be continued. George never raised sheep for meat; he raised them only for their wool.

We saw the goodness in George from the very beginning. He was like the Good Shepherd we know who rescues us, cares for us, and redeems us. “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me” (John 10:14).