Parable
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth... - Luke 15:4-7
Lost Sheep (Biblical)
In the parable, one of the shepherd´s sheep has gone astray and become lost. The shepherd leaves the rest of his sheep safely in the fold to go in search of the lost one. When he finds the sheep he throws it on his shoulders and returns to the others, rejoicing with his friends and neighbors over finding the one that was lost. The parable concludes, ®...likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth....® God is the shepherd and we are His sheep. Each of us wanders from His safety and becomes lost at times. The parable reminds us that God knows each one of us and He will search after us and bring us safely home. I included a butterfly in the background, a symbol thought by many to represent the soul, to remind us that every soul is precious in the sight of God and none of us are forgotten to Him.
