10/06/2026
Lost Kid
by Greg Threatte
Here on the farm the birth of a new baby is cause for excitement regardless of the species. This was true when our young pygmy doe Lexi delivered her firstborn, a precious and tiny boy. The natural instinct became very apparent as Lexi was immediately a good mama. She nurtured, cleaned, and diligently cared for her newborn.
The love this mother had for her baby was obvious, especially on the evening of his disappearance.
As Sharon and I walked out the door leaving for an event, we heard a mournful cry coming from the Pygmy birthing pen. A quick check revealed that the now two weeks old was not in the pen and Lexi was distraught. In the rain and dark, we began searching just knowing he would be close by. After nearly two hours of searching, we began to think that there was a possibility that he would not be found or that he had possibly been killed by one of our dogs even though they had never been aggressive toward any of our livestock. With broken hearts, we called off the search for the night and try as we might; we were unable to console the grieving Lexi.
Break of day found us again searching for the baby or some evidence of what happened. This seeking also turned up empty.
We continued to look for him at our lunch breaks and evenings to no avail. The next day found us looking again with no success.
Finally, upon Sharon’s arriving from work two days after the disappearance, a cry was heard in the distance, and she discovered the scared and hungry little Billy on another part of the farm. Again, there was excitement on the farm when a few days before Christmas, the miracle of his return happened which landed him the name Nicholas.
Even though we searched diligently, our seeking pales in comparison to the way God has sought each of us. Scripture proclaims that in our mother’s womb, He knew us. His love for us compelled Him to provide a way to redeem us, come to us when we were at our worst in sin, and compassionately and diligently search for us when we stray. Unlike with our search for Nicholas, God never sleeps or slumbers so the darkness we encounter will never cause Him to suspend His search. He is always willing to leave the 99 who are safe in the fold to search for that one lost sheep. Luke 15:6 speaks of His excitement when his searching is over. “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
Won’t you allow yourself to be found today?