Jonathan: "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd”
March 5, 2020 was the 10-year anniversary of our son Jonathan’s passing.
As I went throughout the day, the hymn, “Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd,” kept playing in my mind. Then I remembered that this was one of the songs that we sang at his funeral. The reason I chose this hymn was because I used to read the words to this hymn every Sunday in church during the Sacrament. I would silently pray for someone who would come into Jonathan’s life and “rescue” him. As the chorus to the fourth verse of this hymn says:
“Out in the desert they wander,
Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue we’ll hasten,
Bringing them back to the fold.”
Many times, during Jonathan’s teenage and adult life, I didn’t know where he was living or if he were alive or dead. All I could do was keep fervently praying for him morning and night. I’ve always loved the following scriptures, which reminded me of how much my Heavenly Father cared about my son. I knew the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, would not abandon Jonathan.
“How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which has gone astray?
And if it so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”
Liz Lemon Swindle, a religious painter and artist, once said the following in a talk entitled, “Find Your Lost Sheep.”
“Those lost sheep of which Jesus spoke are those that can’t see their way in the mists of darkness. They have lost their grip on the iron rod and they are skipping along those broad roads. … Be mindful of the people around you who you will become a shepherd to. Sometimes these are our families and our friends; sometimes it’s just in the mirror.”
I hope you will take a few minutes to listen to this beautiful hymn, “Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd.” As you ponder its message, please act upon any promptings you might receive to reach out and help someone today.
Lyrics for Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd
1.
Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are the sheep of His fold;
Dear is the love that He gives them,
Dearer than silver or gold.
Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are His "other" lost sheep;
Over the mountains He follows,
Over the waters so deep.
Out in the desert they wander,
Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue He hastens,
Bringing them back to the fold.
2.
Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are the lambs of his fold;
Some from the pastures are straying,
Hungry and helpless and cold.
See, the Good Shepherd is seeking,
Seeking the lambs that are lost,
Bringing them in with rejoicing,
Saved at such infinite cost.
Out in the desert they wander,
Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue He hastens,
Bringing them back to the fold.
3.
Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are the "ninety and nine";
Dear are the sheep that have wandered
Out in the desert to pine.
Hark! He is earnestly calling,
Tenderly pleading today:
"Will you not seek for my lost ones,
Off from my shelter astray?"
Out in the desert they wander,
Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue He hastens,
Bringing them back to the fold.
4.
Green are the pastures inviting;
Sweet are the waters and still.
Lord, we will answer Thee gladly,
"Yes, blessed Master, we will!"
Make us Thy true under-shepherds;
Give us a love that is deep.
Send us out into the desert;
Seeking Thy wandering sheep.
Out in the desert they wander,
Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue we’ll hasten,
Bringing them back to the fold.
Off to the rescue we’ll hasten,
Bringing them back to the fold.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hymnal, page 221
Lyrics: Maty B. Wingate
Music: William J. Kirkpatrick