Val's Email Sunday School: Lambs Who Emulate the Sheperd

The Atonement of Christ and his Resurrection are central to the beliefs of Christians, but these concepts are among the most abstract and overwhelming doctrines that we have. It’s hard to understand something that is supposed to be applicable not only to the billions who live on earth today, but all those who have lived and will yet live on the earth. Paradoxically, the Atonement and Resurrection are also taught as very personal and intimate things. Whether or not we understand these concepts matters less than if we understand who Christ was, and why we should seek to be like him. The story of The Bummer Lamb helps me to understand how we might relate and emulate the Savior better:


“Every once in a while, an ewe will give birth to a lamb and reject it. There are many reasons she may do this. If the lamb is returned to the ewe, the mother may even kick the poor animal away. Once a ewe rejects one of her lambs, she will never change her mind.

These little lambs will hang their heads so low that it looks like something is wrong with its neck. Their spirit is broken.

These lambs are called “bummer lambs.” Unless the shepherd intervenes, that lamb will die, rejected and alone. So, do you know what the shepherd does?

He takes that rejected little one into his home, hand-feeds it and keep it warm by the fire. He will wrap it up with blankets and hold it to his chest so the bummer can hear his heartbeat. Once the lamb is strong enough, the shepherd will place it back in the field with the rest of the flock.

But that sheep never forgets how the shepherd cared for him when his mother rejected him. When the shepherd calls for the flock, guess who runs to him first?

That is right, the bummer sheep. He knows his voice intimately.

It is not that the bummer lamb is loved more, it just knows intimately the one who loves it.

It's not that it is loved more, it just believes it because it has experienced that love one on one.

So many of us are bummer lambs, rejected and broken. But He is the good Shepherd. He cares for our every need and holds us close to His heart so we can hear His heartbeat.

We may be broken but we are deeply loved by the Shepherd.

The Lord is MY shepherd... I’m a bummer lamb.”


I think it helps us to remember that we aren’t supposed to love Christ or God without reason. 1 John 4:19 teaches us that “We love him, because he first loved us.” We have been given an example of an individual who succors (or gives assistance, aid, or support in times of hardship) to people who are suffering. We can feel this power and strength in our own lives during our darkest times. To me, this is more applicable for us as individuals than his role in the remission of sin, because that’s not an example we can emulate. We can, however, look to his example in easing the burdens of those who are pained, afflicted, infirm, disappointed, or full of sorrow.

If we are to emulate Christ, we must “Be . . . not weary in well doing for [we] are laying the foundation of a great work.” If the two great commandments are to love God and love our neighbor, then the small and simple ways that we show love and support for those around us are the most powerful things that we can do.

There are so many things I could write about regarding our small and simple acts, or compassion and love for others, or our love for our neighbors strengthening and shoring up our love for God. However, I’ll end with this. Let us learn about Christ. Let us learn why we would want to emulate him. Let us seek to understand how and why “Christ himself [is] the chief cornerstone” of our faith. As we work to improve ourselves, we can be an influence of good in our families, and communities, and ultimately the world.