The Voice of the Shepherd

Last Sunday was Good Shepherd Sunday at church. Micah happily went up front to listen to the children's sermon. Ms. Edie had all the children close their eyes and asked each parent to call his/her child's name. Her point was that each child knows the sound of their parents' voices even when dozens of people are talking.

I wondered. Have we reached that point? Would Micah know the sound of my voice? Or would he look to the other parents calling out at the same time. So I called. No response. I called again and he whipped his head right around toward my voice. He heard me. Even through the symphony of children's names being shouted out, he knew his name and my voice. I pray that Baba and I will have the wisdom to lead him in this life.

As Micah knows my voice and follows me, I need to listen for the voice of my Good Shepherd. I've known him longer than Micah's known me, but do I readily recognize his voice and move in that direction?

2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."

John 10:2-6