Kisses From Lambs

Laughter and sunshine hung sweetly in the air. A cool spring breeze blew through the group of children. A few adults mingled with them also, sticking out above the small ones. Over here a bird sang, and over there a dog panted; but no one paid attention to the breeze, or the birds or the dog. All their eyes were on the herd of sheep coming towards them.

A couple of very farm-looking dogs were herding the sheep into the corral. Once inside and easier to catch, the smallest lambs were picked up and handed through the fence so the children could pet and hold them.

There is something about nature that is healing. Looking out over a green field, admiring a flower, caressing an animal, or examining a towering tree… there simply is nothing like it. Peace is what it transmits; peace and love—the love from a Creator that gives us beautiful things to enjoy.

That is the explanation for equine therapy, and other therapy animals. They are able to transmit such an untainted purity that comes directly from the Creator.

So there we all were, gathered around the little lambs. Getting picked up, put down, squeezed and cuddled, the lambs were the absolute center of attention. The tender awe—something not tangible, but easily felt—wafted through the air.

This experience for the children was sublime. Not often did they get to escape the walls of the orphanage that they live in. Their living conditions aren’t extremely awful, but they aren’t exactly sufficient for growing children. They have food there, they have clothes, they have beds and bathrooms, but the amount of love that they receive is meager; as well as good examples for them to follow and learn from. Most of them still have at least one living parent, but end up in the orphanage due to drugs, prostitution, bad economic state, domestic violence, or any other nightmarish situation that a child could experience.

My family and I have lived in Uruguay for seven years now, and for most of that time we have worked with these children that come and go from the orphanage. When we first started—and even now—we don’t really know what we’re doing. We just give them love. On that day, we loved them by letting them squeeze and pat our sheep.

Since the lambs were restless and were kicking too hard for the smaller children to hold them, some of the adults were holding them and letting the others pet them.

As I stood back and watched all that was going on, a little scene caught my eye. My dad had started “kissing” the kids with the lamb he was holding, or rather putting its nose on their cheeks and making kissing noises.

This literally took my breath away. The image of my father with these kids gave me a peek at what I wasn’t able to see with my eyes, but what was really happening.

The Creator—Daddy, Papa—was kissing his cherished children.

This tender portrayal of my earthly father showed so clearly the love of my Father in heaven.

These children are so hungry for love. They are so hurt in so many ways. They have been abandonded and looked down upon, bruised and broken—but not in Him.

He longs to be their Daddy. He accepts them just as they are; he wants to heal them.

He is always looking for ways to show us His love. On that day, to those children—and to me— He showed it through kisses from lambs.