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The herbage of the field was nipped off close, and the shepherd wanted to get his sheep up to a higher place where there was good pasture. The way led over a steep bluff, however, and the poor things did not want to go over it. Then the shepherd seized a lamb and carried it in his arms up the nipped way to the higher ground. The little thing ran to the edge and looked down, bleating and calling for the older sheep. In a few moments the mother had gone up, and all the flock followed her.
We are like sheep, and are slow to follow our Shepherd up the steep way towards the heavenly life. Then the Shepherd has to use loving urgency. Sometimes he takes a child to heaven to lead thither the mother or the father. Or he takes away a man’s riches to save the man’s soul. Or he lays us on a sick bed and shuts us away in the darkness to compel us to think of spiritual things. Or he sends trouble in some form to get us to walk in holy paths. If we can be saved in no other way, it is better that we lose out of our life all the flowers and the sunshine, and walk amid thorns and in darkness, reaching home at last.