Are You a Bummer Lamb?
I was watching an interview with Christian author Sheila Walsh the other day when she began talking about "bummer lambs." Having lived in rural Wales for a few years, I've learned quite a bit about sheep farming, but this particular term was new to me.
A bummer lamb, as it turns out, is a lamb that has been rejected by its mother. Sometimes, the ewe has twins and can only feed one. Sometimes, the mother dies during birth. And sometimes, for reasons only the sheep know, a mother simply refuses to accept her baby.
When this happens, the shepherd steps in. He takes the rejected lamb into his home and hand-feeds it. He keeps it warm by the fire, wraps it in blankets, and tends to its every need. The shepherd essentially becomes the lamb's parent, giving extraordinary care and attention to this tiny creature.
What struck me most was what happens when the shepherd eventually returns the lamb to the flock. These hand-raised lambs never forget the special care they received. While other sheep might scatter when the shepherd approaches, the bummer lambs run directly to him. They recognize his voice above all others and respond with immediate trust and joy. Isn't this exactly what our Good Shepherd does for us?
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (John 10:11)
There are times in life when we feel utterly rejected—cast aside by those we thought would love us, abandoned in our hour of need, or left isolated in our pain. During my worst fibromyalgia flares or back spasms, when even getting out of bed feels impossible, I've experienced that sense of being set apart, different, and unable to function like everyone else.
But in those moments of rejection and isolation, our Shepherd draws nearest.
He takes us into His care, feeds us with His Word, wraps us in the warmth of His presence, and speaks words of comfort directly to our hearts. And in those intimate moments of being tended to by the Shepherd, something beautiful happens. We come to know His voice so intimately that we can distinguish it from all others.
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" (John 10:27)
Perhaps you've been a bummer lamb—rejected, wounded, cast aside. Maybe you're in that season right now, feeling the sting of abandonment or isolation. Take heart, dear friend. The Shepherd sees you. He hasn't left you to fend for yourself. In fact, this difficult season might be the very thing that draws you into deeper intimacy with Him.
The sheep who know the Shepherd's voice best are often those who've experienced His special, personal care. They're the ones who run to Him without hesitation, trust Him implicitly, and know from experience the goodness of His heart.
What looks like rejection in our lives might actually be God's invitation to experience His shepherding in ways we never would have otherwise. And once we've known that kind of personal care, we'll never be the same.