All of us, like sheep, have gone. astray, each of us has turned to his own way – Isaiah 53:6
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Several years ago, my granddaughter and I were studying Psalm 23 together. She asked me to tell her how a real sheep and shepherd looked like Jesus, our good Shepherd. As I pondered that question, the idea of a book about a sheep and her shepherd was born. As a sheep myself, I know how foolish sheep can be, so it was easy to draw the similarities between a sheep and her shepherd to Jesus and His followers.
A book that inspired me was A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller. Keller became a sheep farmer, equipping him with insights to understand the relationship between us and our good Shepherd. These observations fueled my imagination, along with the pictures my granddaughter drew as we read Psalm 23 together. Sheep are not smart, and they are defenseless. They need a shepherd to care for and protect them. Out of these thoughts, the concept of Silly Sally was born.
Her first adventure shows her blindly following her sisters who lead her into trouble, but her shepherd rescues her and cares for her as she heals. He never leaves her side, even carrying her on his shoulders while she recovers. The parallels to Jesus, our loving and caring Shepherd, are wonderfully similar. For the young child, knowing he has a Shepherd watching over him while he sleeps or plays can give him peace in place of fear. That was my goal: to help children rest in and trust Jesus as their loving Shepherd. Prayerfully, this objective will be achieved. Rest easy, little sheep. Your Father in heaven cares for you every day and in every way.
Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.
—Isaiah 40:11 NASB
All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.–Isaiah 53:6a.
In The Adventures of Silly Sally and the Prickly Bush, our main character is a sheep who finds herself in a lot of trouble when she blindly follows her sisters off the beaten path. Thankfully, her shepherd hears her cries and rushes to rescue her. She loves her shepherd because he is kind and caring, just like our heavenly Father, our good Shepherd.
Sally learns to trust her shepherd and is at peace even in the midst of troubles. The same is true for us. We can trust our good Shepherd to help us in times of trouble. We do not need to fear the dark or the dangers because our Shepherd will protect us. Be on the lookout for more adventures with Silly Sally.
The Adventures of Silly Sally and the Prickly Bush
The Adventures of Silly Sally and the Big Storm
Silly Sally loves life on the farm except in the summer, when it gets so hot that she feels like she is melting. Her shepherd knows that hot sheep are not healthy sheep, so he takes them up the mountain, to the clear, cool air and green pastures. The climb to the top is full of dangers. Plus, it is very steep. Storms often arise suddenly and threaten the safety of the sheep. Drenched sheep are not healthy sheep either. The shepherd must find a safe hiding place for the flock during the storm. He offers his body as protection from the storm. The sheep arrive safely at the top, where they feast on the fresh green grass and enjoy the security from dangers.
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