The Negligent Shepherd

In a far away region, there lived a little shepherd who spent his time looking after his sheep.

In the morning he would lead the flock into the fields, where the sheep had abundant vegetation and fresh water from a stream that ran through the nearby rocks. In the afternoon they would happily return to the fold. The little shepherd would feel tired but satisfied.

One day, though, he started getting sick of his job and wanted to do something better. He no longer cared for the sheep, and when one of them strayed from the others, he did not rush to bring it back. He would leave them to their own devices while he sat in the shade of a tree dreaming of changing his life.

Soon, a hungry wolf approached the place, and as they were alone, it advanced on the helpless sheep, while the shepherd slept unconcerned of his tasks.

With the noise the sheep made, bleating in despair, the shepherd woke up and, sensing danger, blew his horn that was used to call for help when needed or just to communicate at a distance with other shepherds.

His father and some farm workers rushed in and the wolf ran away. But one of the sheep had been attacked, and it was bleeding heavily on the ground, very hurt.

The father took it home very carefully and took care of its wounds with a lot of affection. The little shepherd felt sorry and cried, seeing his little lamb suffering because of him.

Then his father called him and said to him severely:

- You do not deserve my trust. I gave you the task of taking care of my sheep and you were careless and negligent. If you had not been distracted in carrying out the tasks I entrusted to you, you would have realised the danger in time to avoid it, calling for help promptly. Now a helpless little animal suffers from your neglect and may even lose its life.

Hanging his head, sad, the little shepherd answered:

- I know you're right, father. I recognise my mistake. But do not deny me another opportunity! I promise to be more careful and vigilant in my duties. And I will take great care of the sheep you entrust me with.

Satisfied, his father blessed him, knowing he had learned his lesson, and gave him a new opportunity to prove that he had changed his behaviour.

The little sheep, under the care of the shepherd, was soon healed and could happily run through the fields with the other sheep, followed by the attentive gaze of the young man.

*

And so it is with us too. How often God, Our Father, trusting in us, gives us the blessing of performing a task that, because of carelessness, we do not perform well.

The Lord places at our disposal the means necessary for our progress and, negligently, we indulge in laziness and apathy, indifferent to the divine opportunity that is given to us and often we hurt other creatures with our irresponsibility.

God, however, is a Loving Father, and will always give us new opportunities to start over from where we got stuck. And if we play the "horn" asking for help through a prayer, He will not fail to attend to us in our difficult moments.

Aunt Celia

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