Being A Sheep Dog

“I am the good shepherd. As the Father knows me and I know the Father, in the same way I know my sheep and they know me” (John 10: 14-15). 

I recently watched a fictitious TV show about rescuing high school students who were in danger.  As the S.W.A.T team sped to the sight, the leader reminded the team that the students were the sheep; the adults with the youth were the shepherds; but the team coming to rescue all of them were the sheepdogs sent to protect them. 

That idea stuck in my head and challenged me to think about how we treat our young people at times. In this “hurry-up” world, do we expect too much of our young people? I know that, as parents and grandparents, we do our best to protect the young people in our lives.  When danger of any kind comes along, how have we prepared our young ones?  As I look and listen to my grandchildren, I truly wonder what they are thinking.  I am amazed how much they know at such a young age.  They certainly teach me about technology.  But they also sense when I need help, a hug or a kind word.  It is easy to protect them, to be their “sheep dog” when they are little because we know their needs and can provide the care in each situation.

But as they grow, their world begins to include other people they watch and listen to, maybe even spending more time with them and not us.  Have we prepared them for the temptations that will come their way?  In my many years of youth ministry, I learned so many valuable things from our youth.  They knew they could trust me to listen and give the best advice I could.  They weren’t always perfect, but who is?   But they were such good examples for the younger groups they spent time with through activities.  They had a special sense of spirituality and how they hoped to make the world a better place.  They recognized the need for them to reach out and help those in need, even when it meant making sacrifices for that to happen.  Even with this new sense of what the world could be, they still needed a “sheep dog,” to protect them when they became distracted or confused about what was happening in their lives.

As teenagers grow into young adults, they are expected to stand on their own, making life decisions and coping with the consequences of their choices.  But again, we must be the “sheep dogs” to this age too.  Have we properly prepared them for what the world will throw at them at this age?  Do we ask how they are doing and whether we can help?  Sadly, I have seen those who were not ready for the darkness of life and made tragic decisions.  Those souls will forever haunt me and leave me wondering if I could have been a better protector. 

In this new year, I have pledged  to be a “sheepdog” to all those young people, at every level of age:

• To teach them how much God loves them and how they will feel close to him in prayer and good deeds. 
• To affirm them for the great decisions they do make and talk them through the challenges life can bring. 
• To know they have value and worth. 

God is our shepherd; we are all his sheep, and sometimes we have to take on the role of “sheepdog” to make sure our younger generation is always protected. Will you join me?