The Shepherd's Love. A Short Love Story

The Shepherd's Love.

A Short Love Story

By Alison Lawrence

***

“Alef, it is too dangerous! You will do this for one sheep? What of the others? Something could happen to them whilst you are gone, and what will we do then?”

Alef's gaze remained soft as he turned to his young wife. “All will be well, Zena. Papa will help keep watch over the flock. This little one is expecting, and it would be cruel not to go. The wolves will tear her apart if I don't find her quickly.”

Zena fought both rage and tears as she rose from the rough table. Surely she meant more to Alef than a simple sheep!

As she carried the bowls towards the stone basin, she felt Alef's arms encircle her. “I love you, Zena. I will be back soon. I promise.”

But Zena stiffened her back and stifled her usual loving response. Alef sighed and let her go. He'd seen the tears glimmering in her deep brown eyes, and he hated to leave. But he must. It was a shepherd's duty. The fondness he felt for his sheep was hard to explain to Zena, or to anyone other than his fellow shepherds. Alef lifted his leather bag to his shoulder before taking up his staff. The same staff he'd carried since his thirteenth birthday. A gift from his shepherd father. He stood silently for some moments, and watched Zena's tense form as she worked. Love eased the impatience he felt. Zena was young, and a bit sensitive right now. She'd come round.

“I'll be off now.”

Zena merely nodded, not trusting herself to speak, but she warmed a little in his parting embrace. “Take care.”

“And you dear one.”

Zena stood at the door of their small home and watched as her husband walked away towards the hills. His red hair glinted in the sun, bringing fresh tears to her eyes and a prayer for his safety to her lips.

***

Alef made his way quickly through the stubbly fields surrounding his home village. One of his pregnant ewes had wandered away when he'd led the flock to grazing beyond the village. He knew that she wasn't nearby. He and his brothers had searched the area thoroughly. The ewe's time was close and he needed to head for the foothills and hope that his sheep was somehow still alive. The beautiful simplicity of the countryside brought peace to his soul, and he prayed as he walked. He felt sure that the Lord would lead him to the lost creature and bring peace to Zena. The hills rolled around Alef, but his heart was still. He strained his ears to hear the sound of bleating and scanned the scrubby bushes around him. The only sound to be heard was the crunching of sand beneath his sandals and the soft singing of the birds and insects.

Alef kept up his pace along the ancient shepherd's path, stopping only briefly to drink, and then for a longer break at lunchtime. A wild olive tree provided relief from the midday sun, and after eating some flat bread, olives, and cheese, he dozed through the worst of the heat.

***

After a simple lunch, Zena closed the shutters to keep out the midday sun before stretching her weary body out on the straw mattress. She worried that Alef wouldn't make it back before nightfall. What if something happened to him? She hated the thought of staying alone in their cottage. Perhaps she would do as Alef had suggested and leave for his mother's house just before sundown. Yes. It would be for the best. One never knew what could happen during the dark hours.

***

Alef woke from his light slumber, determined to find his hapless sheep and make it home before nightfall. He didn't enjoy the thought of Zena being all alone, but took comfort in the thought that his parents were nearby. As he walked, he checked the gullies for any sign of the lost animal. It was easy for a lone animal to lose its footing. Without the shepherd to guide and protect them, sheep became extremely vulnerable. Alef had packed oil into his sack as well as linen, although he hoped they wouldn't be needed. Perhaps the soon to be mother had merely been tempted by the new spring growth in the foothills. Alef found himself praying earnestly once more as he scanned the terrain around him.

***

Zena waited anxiously as the sun made its slow descent. She completed all of her afternoon chores and served sweet tea to her father in law, who popped in to check on her. Once he'd left, she gathered the ingredients for a simple stew. It wouldn't do to have nothing to offer her husband when he arrived home, tired and hungry. The afternoon wore on, but still there was no sign of Alef. At last, when the sun had lost its fervor, Zena packed a bag. She picked her way carefully through the olive grove and wondered where Alef would be making a bed for himself out there in the hills. She prayed once more for his safety, the selfish feelings she'd felt, now replaced entirely with concern.

***

As the shadows lengthened, Alef's hopes of finding his sheep grew slimmer. But he resolved to search until he found her. Dead or alive. He continued to follow the steep trail, until he realized that he must stop for the night. He looked about, and saw ahead of him, a small valley between the hills. The trees that grew there would provide some shelter. He settled in for the night on the lee-side of a large boulder, then, after eating a little more bread and cheese, he lay down with his sack beneath his head. The wind and the sounds of the night fragmented his sleep, and once he thought he heard the bleat of a sheep. Was it his imagination, or was that a wolf howl sounding nearby?

Alef forgot about trying to sleep. Grabbing his slingshot, he clambered up the boulder. Moonlight illuminated the still warm valley. Alef could see a familiar shape not far from the boulder. His sheep! It must be. He was about to run to the animal, when he saw movement near the edges of a clump of trees. Yellow eyes glinted, stealing Alef’s breath. With quick, sure movements he picked up a stone and aimed. He fired off two more shots towards the beast. He heard its sudden cry and the thud as it fell, but he dared not move until he'd ascertained there were no more of its kind. He waited as long as he dared. Then, hoping the wolf had been alone, he hurried to find the sheep. Wolves usually moved in packs, so he needed to be quick.

“Silly thing.” He whispered as he reached the sheep’s side. “Don't you realize the danger you're in?” The ewe was pacing and pawing at the ground: a clear sign that her baby would arrive soon.

The sheep looked up, seeming to recognize the shepherd. Alef led her to the boulder. It was going to be a long night. The rest of the pack could appear at any moment, and he mustn't take his eyes off his sheep. Now that he'd found her, he was going to make sure she stayed safe.

Alef felt the Lord’s presence, and he began to breathe more easily. Many minutes passed, but strangely, no more wolves appeared. Alef whispered a prayer of thanks, then turned his attention to the sheep, who now lay meekly beside him. He examined her carefully. No injuries, and she seemed in good health, but her time was near. Alef kept a close watch over his charge all night, as he rested in the knowledge that the Great Shepherd was watching too.

***

As dawn blushed the hills, Alef made his way home. He was weary, but his burden felt light. On his shoulders, he bore the tired new mother, and in his sack, her little one made its temporary home. The journey included stops for water and baby feedings. Alef had no food left for himself come lunchtime, but when he encountered some fellow shepherds, they shared their food with him, and celebrated his success.

Darkness had fallen by the time he reached the village. Alef headed straight for his parents’ cottage. He couldn't wait to see Zena and show her the little one.

He opened the door without knocking, still bearing his burden. His father clapped him on the shoulder, grinning broadly. His mother merely smiled, then beckoned him to the bedroom when he asked where Zena was.

As the lamb bleated, he heard another sound, and hurried into the room.

There on the bed, lay his lovely wife, with an even lovelier surprise in her arms.

“Your son is here, Alef.” Zena's eyes lighted on the snowy head peeping from Alef's bag. Alef saw understanding and love in her face.

His father quickly took the animals from him, and Alef kneeled at Zena’s side. He hesitated to take the little one in his dirty hands, but Zena carefully passed the swaddled baby to him. So Perfect.

To think that Zena had bravely helped their little one into the world whilst he had been gone.

“Thanks be to God. All of my lambs are safe.”

***

Luke 15:1-7 ESV

[1] Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. [2] And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” [3] So he told them this parable: [4] “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? [5] And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. [6] And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ [7] Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.15.1-7.ESV

***

Story copyright: Alison Lawrence

Pencil in His Hand: A Mother's Journal of Poems, Thoughts, and Stories.

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