I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11
Shepherds lead, protect and watch over their sheep. They make sure they are fed, safe, and not wandering into danger. Good shepherds don’t stand far off, they stay close. When Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd, He is not distant. He is attentive. He sees. He guards. He guides.
As a mother, I understand in a small way what it means to watch carefully. Love makes you alert. It makes you protective and willing to sacrifice. When I look at my daughter, there is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect her, guide her, and help her grow. But my love has limits. I grow tired, I lose patience, and I don’t always see what’s ahead. Jesus doesn’t have those limits. When He says He lays
down His life for His sheep, He means fully, willingly, completely. No hesitation. No resentment. No exhaustion. Just love. He doesn’t just guide from a distance. He steps in. He chooses sacrifice. That kind of love is not reactive, it is intentional.
As a teacher of young children, I’m reminded how much guidance little ones need. They wander. They forget. They get distracted. They test boundaries. And if I’m honest, so do I. I begin each day wanting to model patience and grace, but by the end of a long day, I’m reminded that I need a Shepherd
just as much as they do. John 10:11 reminds me that I am not navigating motherhood or the classroom alone. The Shepherd sees what I can’t. He anticipates what’s coming. He gently redirects when I drift. He
protects in ways I never even recognize. Sheep don’t lead themselves. They follow a voice they trust.
And I am learning to trust His voice. The Good Shepherd does not run when things get messy and He does not abandon me when I wander. He does not grow weary of guiding me back. His love is not conditional on my performance. He laid down His life not because I had it all together but because I didn’t. That truth reminds me that the same Shepherd who cares for me also cares for my daughter and my students and for you. In this life, I will never be perfect but I can do my best to stay close to Jesus by following Him.
PRAYER: Good Shepherd, thank You for leading, protecting, staying close, and laying down Your life for me. Help me stay focused when I wander. Amen
REFLECTION:
1. Jesus, because of His humanity, understands our limits. How does it help to know He knows yours?
2. Jesus, because He is God, does not, as Jennifer puts it, “run when things get messy.” What comfort can that fact bring you today?
AUTHOR: Jennifer Freeman Talley is a life-long Lutheran, a wife, mom to a Zion 5th grader, educator, writer, and musician. She enjoys subbing at Zion, singing in the choir, and playing the clarinet in Zion’s wind ensemble. www.noteworthymommy.com
This devotional appeared in the 2026 Zion Lutheran Church’s devotional book.
Noteworthy Mommy 