Feeding His Sheep

Photo Credit: Omayra Lopez Caruso

SHEEP’S DEN

Omayra texted me a photo she took

of Antonio, now eight—

He was on his knees, feeding a lamb

out of his hand

My home is full of sheep—

It could even be called a sheep’s den

Sometimes my grandchildren

roam from room to room

trying to count them

but they never come close

to counting them all

Sometimes the little ones draw pictures

for me of sheep grazing or of lions and lambs

which I gladly display on the refrigerator door

There’s an assortment

of whimsical woolies on the windowsill

above the kitchen sink

and various sheep are featured

on coffee mugs in the cupboard

A comical lamb sits on top of the water cooler

Plush sleepy sheep lie on all the beds

novelties dangle from doorknobs

lamps and windows

There are finely carved olive wood sheep

on the china cabinet in the living room

not to mention cozy lamb sweaters

and socks in bureau drawers

lamb pins and pendants

stashed in my jewelry box

Lambs, lambs everywhere

lambs to make us smile

lambs to remind us

we’re here to feed

the hungry sheep

Feeding His sheep—

is what I do

by sharing a verse, a poem

a little money, a meal

all for the love of my Shepherd

Feeding His sheep—

just as my grandson, Antonio

is lovingly learning to do

Maude Carolan Pych