The Diary of a Sheep

I saw the wolf today.

He was far off, just watching.

He seemed small standing so far away. I didn’t see the teeth I’d heard people talk about.

But I ran close to the Shepherd anyway, even though it seemed there was nothing to fear.

I felt better beside Him.

Safer.

More secure.

When I looked back over my shoulder, the wolf was gone.

I saw the wolf today.

He was closer this time, but not too close.

He still didn’t look very big.

He wasn’t as scary as I was expecting now that he was a little closer.

No teeth that I could see.

He just watched, as though the scene before him was relaxing.

Maybe he wasn’t so bad.

But I stayed near the Shepherd, just in case.

I saw the wolf today.

He was closer than last time.

I moved a little closer, just to look at him.

I wanted to see if he really had teeth like they said.

I could run before he could get me… right?

He looked a little bigger this time. Maybe because he was closer… and so was I.

But before I could get too close, the Shepherd scooped me up and rebuked me for being so close to a predator.

Maybe He was just overreacting.

The wolf seemed peaceful.

His nearness didn’t bother me like it once did.

But I let the Shepherd carry me away anyway.

I saw the wolf today.

He was closer.

But he still seemed so harmless.

I edged closer than last time.

He was bigger today, but still so peaceful.

Maybe he just wanted to be friends, and the Shepherd had misunderstood him.

I was so close I could see him clearly.

I still didn’t see teeth.

The Shepherd had probably only told us that to keep us from wandering.

I hadn’t gone far.

I could still see the flock.

That warning was probably meant for sheep who weren’t as mature as I was.

My nose touched the wolf’s.

And he rose to his feet.

He was much larger than I had expected.

His mouth opened…And I saw the teeth.

The dreadful, horrible snarl.

The Shepherd had been right.

But it was too late.

He sank his teeth into me and began to drag me away.

I tried to cry out, but the teeth I had sworn the Shepherd had exaggerated were wrapped around my neck.

I couldn’t make a sound.

I had fallen for the trick.

All because I doubted the Shepherd.

I saw the Shepherd today.

Finally.

The wolf hadn’t devoured me the way I expected.

He had toyed with me.

Wounded me.

Torn pieces from me.

But he hadn’t expected the Shepherd to come for one sheep.

The Shepherd moved in quickly, and the wolf tried to convince Him that I was too far gone… that I had doubted Him… that I was no longer a useful or valuable part of the flock.

The Shepherd didn’t answer.

He simply defeated the wolf without hesitation.

Maybe He would leave me here.

It was my fault.

Maybe this was my punishment.

I would simply lie here until I died.

But then I felt His hands gently wrap around me, and He lifted me onto His shoulders.

“The wolf didn’t win,” He whispered softly.

When He returned me to the flock, He dressed my wounds.

He told me that one day my voice would heal, and I would warn the others of the dangers of the wolf.

So I stayed near Him.

Never letting Him get far from me again.

And one day, just as He said, my voice rang loudest when warning others about the predators.

I saw the wolf today.

He looked small.

Innocent.

Misunderstood.

But my voice rang out anyway.

This flock will never trust a wolf.

Not on my watch.