Yet another reason we don’t deserve dogs.
Far away there was a valley. Jagged mountains, each a winter-crowned tower, formed an impregnable defense against civilization. For most of the year, the gentle sun shone down from a soft blue sky. A playful breeze danced through the trees. A winding river twisted and turned its lazy way through the valley. A sea of grass covered the rolling hills and a carpet of flowers blushed with cheerful joy. Everything within the valley knew how lucky it was to live in so wonderful a place.
Within the valley, there was a flock of Silly Sheep. To see one was to see them all, for they did everything in the same way. Nevertheless, to hear it from one of the Silly Sheep, each was a daring rebel.
“Look at my ears. See how I’ve brought them back.”
The others would look and note the change and the entire flock would rush to copy the slight change. Every one of the Silly Sheep knew they had to be different, so long as they were all different in the same way.
“Do you see my wool? Don’t I look absurd?”
The entire flock agreed and were all shocked. Of course, by the next day, each of the others had mimicked the new style. This was how the Silly Sheep filled their days. The flock was happy and safe, and never mentioned the danger.
The Silly Sheep had two things they loved: the first was being the same, the second was complaining. They loved to complain.
“It’s too hot.”
“The water is too cold.”
“There’s never enough food.”
All day long, the Silly Sheep complained. With everything they did, and everything they saw, the flock found fault and quickly spoke their minds. Their favorite complaints, though, were about their protector.
Always upon a nearby hill was the Loyal Sheepdog. For as long as there had been Silly Sheep, the Loyal Sheepdog had watched over them. Wherever the Silly Sheep wandered, the Loyal Sheepdog followed, keeping the flock safe. Whenever they wandered too near the cliffs, the Loyal Sheepdog dashed forward, barking his warning to turn back. Whenever the flock wandered too far from their grazing lands, the Loyal Sheepdog led them home. If a Silly Sheep went astray, the Loyal Sheepdog guided it back to its friends. The Loyal Sheepdog never complained, nor did he fail, and the Silly Sheep hated him.
“Why does he bark at us?”
“Why does he keep us in the valley?”
“Why does he treat us like lambs?”
They mocked him and teased him and made all sorts of cruel jokes.
“Do you see his large nose?”
“Do you see his strange ears?”
But there came a night when the Silly Sheep regretted their words. Deep in the shadowy woods, amidst the tress and safe from the sun’s piercing gaze, was the Hungry Wolf. He was always there, always watching, always waiting for his chance. The Silly Sheep pretended they did not believe, standing together throughout the day. They ignored the dark forest and its eager gaze. In their hearts, however, each one knew, and each one feared.
One night, one of the Silly Sheep had wandered away, and the Loyal Sheepdog left to find it. The flock was alone for the first time, and the Hungry Wolf saw. The predator crouched low, almost to his growling belly, and moved towards the complaining, oblivious flock. The Hungry Wolf licked his lips and eyed the Silly Sheep. He was silent and invisible in the tall grass, but the Hungry Wolf’s eager stomach gave him away.
The Silly Sheep heard the growls and they screamed and tried to run away.
“Oh, help!”
“Help us!”
“Where is the Loyal Sheepdog?”
“Where can he be?”
The Hungry Wolf chose the fattest of the flock and ran towards it. The Silly Sheep tried to escape. In terror, it fled towards the cliff. Suddenly trapped, the Silly Sheep turned but found no way out. The Hungry Wolf approached the Silly Sheep, licking his lips.
And then the Loyal Sheepdog was there.
Fangs and claws flashed in the moonlight. They barked and growled. They snarled and thrashed. The Loyal Sheepdog and the Hungry Wolf battled over the Silly Sheep. Blood fell on the ground. Yelps of pain filled the air. They rolled along the ground and the Hungry Wolf was thrown over the cliff with a howl of despair.
The Loyal Sheepdog stood for a moment in triumph. And then, he fell.
Blood flowed from his many wounds and he hurt very much. The Silly Sheep that had been saved approached the Loyal Sheepdog and sniffed at his wounds. Gratitude filled the Silly Sheep’s heart for almost a full minute, and then it returned to the flock.
The Loyal Sheepdog lay beside the cliff. He looked up at the stars and softly whined. Far away, the flock continued to complain, caring not at all for their protector’s pain. The Loyal Sheepdog tried to look around, but his wounds would not let him. He finally closed his eyes.
A gentle hand then stroked his head. The Loyal Sheepdog looked up and wagged his tail when he saw that the Good Shepherd was there. He had seen all the Loyal Sheepdog had done and heard his cries. The Good Shepherd eased his Loyal Sheepdog’s hurt.
The Loyal Sheepdog continued his duty. The Silly Sheep continued to complain and to mock, but none of that mattered. The Loyal Sheepdog stood on his hill, guarding the flock. For as long as he drew breath, the Loyal Sheepdog would guard the Silly Sheep. And whenever he felt alone, he only had to look up and know, the Good Shepherd was there.
End