Continuing our theme of what ought the church to be producing, here’s an uplifting take from Heather Holleman, English teacher at Penn State, whose blog I read daily.

This morning, I’m leading a devotion on some parts of the book of Jeremiah that have resonated with me. I love, for example, the great promise of how the Lord cares for His people. He says, “I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15). It occurs to me that, at my age, I’m the shepherd. I’m not the dependent child who must keep searching for shepherds. At some point, we become the shepherd for others. – Heather Holleman, May 8, 2020

“At some point, we become the shepherd for others.” There’s the goal! Pastors can’t get around to everyone. Ideally, the church should be filled with shepherds. Ideally, all members should be shepherds or should be becoming shepherds. Yes? Yes! Why not?

Today is Mother’s Day so Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers, and a reminder that mothers are co-shepherds of their family (with Dad if he’s there and taking his share of the shepherding role). I’m not the first to think of this: here’s one of many articles I just discovered, encouraging mothers in their shepherding role at home. The Apostle Paul expands the call:

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women… (Titus 2.3, 4, ESV)

And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them. (Psalm 78.72, NIV)