As you nurture and mother your little flock, you are walking in the anointing of God’s tender shepherd heart. From Genesis to Revelation God reveals himself a shepherd. What a privilege you have as a mother to reveal this beautiful character of God. Isaiah 40:11 says, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”

But shepherding is both tender and powerful. The prophetic words concerning Christ, the Messiah say, “And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel” (Matthew 2:6). The Messiah who will rule the nations with a rod of iron is also the tender shepherd (Revelation 2:27).

Although you tenderly shepherd your flock, you are also the governor of your home—leading, guiding, and guarding. You don’t allow your lambs and growing sheep to become unruly and get out of order. Your responsibility is to govern them and keep them folded. This takes hard work and daily sacrifice (sometimes night and day), but shepherding involves laying down your life for your lambs and sheep (John 10:11).

Love from Nancy