Bummer

I recently learned of something known as a bummer lamb. This is a lamb that is rejected by its mother at birth, so the farmer takes it into his home and cares for it until it is ready to go back to the flock. This creates a bond between the shepard and the lamb that is stronger than the others, due to the lamb’s ability to recognize his voice. Now I want you to think about Christ and how we are all His sheep. In Matthew 18: 12-14 we read the parable of the lost sheep. This Parable talks about how when one sheep goes missing, the shepherd will go out and look for the one so that it can return home.

Here is the thing: we are all these sheep. Sometimes we get lost, when we are lost, there are times when we will turn towards his comforting and loving arms, and times when we will get lost. No matter which one we choose, the Lord is still there for us and with us. I know I have been both of these lambs. I much prefer to be the bummer lamb, but still, I have been both.

The difference between being a bummer lamb and a lost sheep is our choices, for the most part. Now, there are some people who are born lost. They are not born into a family that believes in or knows about Christ. I’m not talking about those people. I’m talking about those of us who are part of the Lord’s fold, who believe and or know the truth and go through hard times. In these hard times, we can choose to be the bummer lamb or the lost sheep.

I have had social anxiety for years, but there was a point in my life before I knew what it was that it got really bad. I’m someone who needs social interaction, it is one of the ways I feel my cup. The thing is, when the idea of socializing makes you want to panic, it is really easy not to socialize. Therefore, I stayed at home and became depressed. During this time, I would go spend time with family, and that helped, but something was still missing. I was lost. Once I started to turn toward the Lord more, I found my way home, but as a bummer lamb. I wasn’t ready to try to walk on my own, and so for a while he carried me. He took the time to nurture me back to health until I was ready to walk beside Him.

I learned a lot from that time in my life. One, I never want to be lost. I wasn’t lost for long, but feeling like I was missing something for even a few days was crushing. From that, I learned that it is always better to turn toward the Lor. He is my safety from the storm of my mind, and even when the voices are screaming that I am wrong, he is the one who brings peace to my soul and saves. On the other end, I have learned the benefits of being a bummer lamb.

I learned what it means to use the Atonement of Jesus Christ and give my weakness to the Lord. To turn to Him in my times of desperate and not-so-desperate need, knowing that He will lift.

Refreces

The Holy Bible: King James Version. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/matt/18?lang=eng. Accessed 11 May 2025.