Accepted by God

My husband and I live on a farm in Oklahoma. We have a small flock of sheep that produces lambs several times a year. Occasionally, a ewe rejects her new lamb and refuses to let it nurse by pushing it away, walking away, or even stepping on it. This could be due to illness in the lamb, too many lambs to nurse, poor mothering instincts, or other unknown reasons. We call this lamb a “bummer” and bring it inside to keep warm and bottle feed it.

For me, church is such a positive experience and the way I feel most connected to God. But sadly, there are many people who feel rejected by the church. Like ewes who reject their young, there are many reasons this happens, some of which are unknown. These judgments are very hurtful to those individuals — they may stop attending, stop seeking God, and even stop believing.

Jesus was rejected by the religious authorities of his time, yet we know that this rejected stone became the cornerstone of God’s plan. When we show acceptance for others rather than rejection, like Jesus, we are promoting love for all God’s children.