"He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart"
Isaiah 40:11

Poor little black sheep that strayed away,
Got lost in the wind and rain,
And the Shepherd He said, "O hireling,
Go find my sheep again."

And the hireling frowned, "O Shepherd,
That sheep is black and bad."
But the Shepherd He smiled, like the little black sheep
Was the only lamb that He had,
Was the only lamb that He had.

And He said, "O hireling, hasten!
For the wind and the rain are cold,
And the little black sheep is lonesome
Out there so far from the fold."

And the hireling frowned, "O Shepherd,
That sheep is old and gray."
But the Shepherd He smiled, like the little black sheep
Was fair as the break of day,
Was fair as the break of day.

And He said, "O hireling, hasten!
Lo, here is the ninety and nine,
But there, way off from the sheep fold,
Is that little black sheep of mine."

And the hireling frowned, "O Shepherd,
The rest of the sheep are here."
But the Shepherd He smiled 'cause the little black sheep
He held it most greatly dear,
He held it most greatly dear.

Then the Shepherd went out in the darkness,
Where the night was cold and bleak,
And the little black sheep He found it,
And it against His cheek.

And the hireling frowned, "O Shepherd,
Don't bring that sheep to me."
But the Shepherd He smiled, and He held it close,
And that little black sheep -- was me!
And that little black sheep -- was me!

#553, "Cross & Crown Hymnal, " lyrics by Ethel M. C. Brazelton

Are you considered the black sheep of your family?  Do you see yourself or have others seen you as an outcast, a weirdo, a misfit, strange or "different"? The dictionary defines a black sheep as a member of a group/family regarded as a disgrace, an embarrassment, a ne'er-do-well, the odd man out. 

There are many people who are labeled this or defined this way by others who they respect and look up to.  If you consider yourself to be a black sheep then my prayer for you is that you will be enlightened to define yourself by higher standards.  My hope is you will be set free from being something you are not and  begin to see yourself as special, set apart,  and unique. 

Those of us who have been black sheep perhaps took on the negative aspects of that role and carried it through out life. All any of us wanted was to fit in and be accepted.  Well, now is the time to look at it from a different perspective and to see the positive aspects of being a black sheep.

If you have been wandering and are lost, I welcome you home.  You are wonderfully special, and one of a kind!   By the way, I'll fill you in on a little secret, Jesus came to save the lost lambs like you and me and to carry us in His arms close to his heart.  It doesn't matter what you have done or where you have been, Jesus is looking to find you little black sheep and to rescue you and set you free. I understand, I strayed too and He forgave me He will do the same for you.