Spring is in the air and as I walked over the hills and country lanes from Harlech to Llanbedr this morning, new-born and young lambs skipped, jumped and played in the fields. A sight that filled me with joy...new life, new hope, new beginnings; they appeared to be dancing with joy!
It may have been cold and wet, but the lambs didn't care, looking content, happy and playful; symbolising innocence, gentleness and unwavering trust as they kept close to their mother's, perhaps a little unnerved as I walked on past.
The motherly ewes offered their lambs great love, protection, devotion, keeping them close, an unbroken bond, offering nourishment, and meeting their every need.
As we approach Easter, I hope this prayer is meaningful to you.
A lamb's prayer of hope.
Dear heavenly father, gentle mother, tender shepherd
who lovingly care for your sheep, cradling lambs in your arms;
we turn to you, opening our hearts to be nourished by your boundless love.
In the bleating of a young lamb, we hear echoes of your grace;
A grace that carries us through valleys of sadness,
when we face difficulties or pain, and burdens weigh us down;
A grace that leads us into green pastures, of hope, promise, peace and joy.
O little fluffy lamb, as I watched you play in your field today,
so fragile yet resilient,
you embody the promise of resurrection.
Your wool, soft and white, unblemished, so pure,
Your eyes wide and trusting, reflect uncompromising faith,
not doubting or full of fear.
As we contemplate the cross,
where your own lamb bore our sins,
we find comfort in the hope of an empty tomb.
Death defeated, darkness dispelled,
Your love poured out, filling this world with rivers of your grace.
May we too, be like the Easter lamb:
gentle in our actions, soft in our words and kind in our deeds.
May we follow you intently, in you place our trust.
And when doubts creep in, when sin tempts or entangles us,
when we stray from your path, and the distance between us seems unsurmountable; search for your lost sheep
and roll away the stone of unbelief.
For You, Jesus, lamb of God are our hope, today and every day.
Amen.
© Stephen Allen 16th Mar 2024
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