~by Susi Pittman

Jesus said:

“My sheep hear my voice;

I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.

No one can take them out of my hand.

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,

and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.

The Father and I are one.”

The cover of Animals in Heaven? which features Jesus the Good Shepherd, has been a source of the books continued appeal. The Good Shepherd watches over all who read its content. I have received numerous emails that have praised the fact that The Good Shepherd on the cover was the decisive item that caused them to want to read the book. There have been others who have told me that they received such joy and peace from the book’s message. One particular person even telling me that at a moment of real darkness in their life, they found hope again in the book’s message.

The Good Shepherd has universal appeal to all faiths and walks of life. Much of the world is starved for the “sacred” and mystical. This image of Jesus is the embodiment of a mystical lover and caregiver over the sacred sanctuary of creation.

Images of the Good Shepherd were actually found in the Catacombs of Rome. By the fifth century this image was given a halo and rich robes, symbolic of Christ’s divinity and priesthood.

Jesus indeed is our shepherd, if we would just believe in His everlasting ability to bring us to our eternal home with the Father, our Father and Creator.

“All that the Father gives to me will come to me.” John 6:37

I can only say that as trials occur and the appearance of darkness may loom on a particular day’s horizon, the best course of action in dealing with such is to run to Jesus, The Good Shepherd. Sit at His feet and allow yourself to bask in His loving and merciful eyes. Allow Him to stand guard over your affairs and in your weakness be strong in Him! Answer that which is negative and ill-intended with the knowledge of knowing that with Jesus, there is NOTHING that the two of you can’t accomplish if you just have faith!

Jesus I trust in You!