Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

You know, Lord, living near cattle ranches, one's noticed how some cows are prone to wander while grazing. A cow just keeps on moving, always looking for the "greener grasses." Near the edge of the property, the cow might discover some cool fresh grass under a shade tree. Just beyond, there might be a broken-down part of a fence and right there was a tasty clump of foliage. Then the cow might push farther beyond the fence and out to the road. It has slowly "nibbled" its way into being lost.

Cows aren't alone in their roaming problem. Deer also wander, sometimes, in and out of town, or maybe by the third generation, they have totally forgotten the out-lying area and just wander, in town, nibbling up flowerbeds, young, tender bushes, the bottoms of some lush green trees.  And then there are sheep - they also wander. Then there are people, and it's likely that people have the biggest tendency of all to go astray.

According to an unnamed author, perhaps that is one of the reasons God compares us to sheep in the Bible. It can be easy to meander and to "nibble our way" through reckless compromises and foolish decisions, so that "we people" never notice now far away we have strayed from the truth.

We remember that You, Lord, told the Pharisees the story of a lost sheep. The sheep was of such great value to the shepherd that he left his other sheep behind while he went searching for the wandering one, and when he found the one that had strayed, He celebrated. We read that in Luke 15:1-7.

Such is Your happiness over those who turn back to You, Lord as You have said: "Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep" (v. 6).

Father in heaven, when we feel lost, redirect our hearts and show us the way home.

Love, Mara