Tangled

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Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement

 

Tangled

 

 

Rounding a corner of Peace Hill farm, we were rewarded with the sight of a flock of angora goats happily foraging in a wooded area. Those gorgeous animals sported lovely curved horns and curly coats of either white, black or various shades of beige and gray. Since they were soon to be sheared, their coats were long and fluffy. Some came running to greet our guide, their shepherd. Others continued to munch on the leaves and stems of the plants on the forest floor. Some approached the fence to look at us with probably as much curiosity as we looked at them. Two of the younger kids frolicked in mock battles. A large goat trying to feed on vines, caught her fluffy coat on a mass of thorny vines. As the goat struggled, the vines tightened around her. After our guide soothed her, the woman heaved the heavy goat around, trying to loosen the vine but could not free the animal. Surprisingly, the goat didn’t bleat her complaint as her shepherd tried to set the goat free. She must have been familiar with the regular strokes of affection the owner passed around to the goats, and the daily feedings they received on the farm. Unable to free the goat, the owner sent for scissors to cut her loose.

 

Isn’t that like us humans? Sometimes we get caught by the briars and tangled vines in our forest of life and need our Shephard to cut us loose and untangle the mess around us. If we aren’t freed immediately, we can trust our Good Shepherd to know when we’ve blundered into a dilemma and need further help in order to set us free. Flailing around without asking God’s help, we can only wind the problem up worse. We can rest in the assurance those sheep had that the Shephard’s intentions toward them was for their benefit.  Grateful for her help when freed, the goat touched noses with her. Recognizing God’s grace in our lives, develops an intimacy with our Shepherd that leads to a closeness beyond our previous experience. This intimacy allows us to go to our Heavenly Shepherd for help with our tangles.