Taking Care of Strays

"When you see the ox or sheep  of your fellow countryman straying, don't go away and leave them.  Instead, be sure to return them to him.  If your fellow countryman doesn't live near you or you don't know who he is, bring the animal to your house and let it remain with you until he claims it.  Then return it to him."  -Deuteronomy 22:1-2

A few years ago we looked out our window to see a horse in our woods.  We figured it must belong to our neighbor whom we knew to have a horse, so Ken went out, still in his bathrobe, to "capture" it and lead it home.  Well, the horse did not want to be captured.  It ran off, back down the lane, past the owner's house and behind some neighbors' houses.  We heard shouting and soon the horse was running back down the lane toward us.  Ken opened the gate and the horse ran into his pasture.  Needless to say it was an unusual morning for us.

Lilias Trotter quoted today's verse when she wrote:  "I have been thinking lately what a work for God it is, just loving people...I think He gives us sometimes a [similar] service for souls--wandering souls that we cannot bring back to Him.  Sometimes all we can do is keep them near us, and show the kindness of God to them, and hold them in faith and prayer till He comes to seek them."

Sometimes all we can do is "hold the gate open" that leads to God by being kind to those who need it most.  Just as Ken had to stand out of the way as he held the gate open, we mustn't stand in the way by insisting people behave a certain way before we show them kindness.

I am grateful that there have been people who have gotten themselves out of the way and just held the gate open for me so that I could enter into God's kingdom.