Bummer Lambs

I've seen stories on number lambs and I've seen farmer videos on them. The farmer tries to get the mother to take care of her lamb, but for some reason or another she just won't. It's heart breaking to watch, but there is a lesson to be learned. 


The Story of the Bummer Lamb

If you’ve ever been around sheep, you may have heard the term bummer lamb. It’s not a flattering name, but the story behind it is both heartbreaking and hope-filled.

A bummer lamb is one that has been rejected by its mother. Sometimes the ewe cannot produce enough milk, sometimes she has twins or triplets and cannot  care for them all, and other times—without any clear reason—she simply refuses to nurture one of her own. The lamb is left without warmth, milk, or the tender care it desperately needs to survive. On its own, a bummer lamb will quickly perish.

But this is where the shepherd steps in.

The shepherd takes the rejected lamb into his own arms. He bottle-feeds it, warms it by the fire, and often carries it close to his heart. Because of this closeness, the bummer lamb grows up with a unique bond to the shepherd. While other sheep might follow the flock, the bummer lamb follows the shepherd. When the shepherd calls, the bummer lamb is usually the first to run to him, because it knows the sound of the voice that saved it.

A Picture of Our Shepherd

What a beautiful picture this is of our relationship with Jesus. Many of us have felt rejected, overlooked, or abandoned at some point in our lives. Maybe by family, friends, or society at large. Like the bummer lamb, rejection can leave us feeling unwanted and unloved. But that is when the Good Shepherd steps in.

Jesus tells us in John 10:14:
"I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me."

When others turn away, Jesus draws us close. When the world refuses to nurture us, He provides. And when we feel like we don’t belong, He reminds us that we belong to Him. The scars of rejection can actually deepen our intimacy with the Shepherd, because we’ve experienced His personal rescue and tender care.

From Rejection to Belonging

The bummer lamb story doesn’t end with rejection. In the end, that lamb often becomes the shepherd’s favorite—walking closer to him than the others. Likewise, God doesn’t just save us; He delights in us. Psalm 34:18 tells us, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

So if you’ve ever felt like a bummer lamb, take heart. You are not forgotten. You are not cast aside. The Shepherd has gathered you up, and in His arms you will find belonging, love, and a voice you will learn to follow with joy.


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✨ Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever experienced rejection, and how did it affect your sense of belonging?


2. In what ways have you seen Jesus step in as your Good Shepherd during those times?


3. How can you extend the Shepherd’s care to others who feel like “bummer lambs”?



🙏 Prayer:
Good Shepherd, thank You for drawing near when I feel rejected and alone. Thank You for calling me Yours and carrying me close to Your heart. Teach me to listen for Your voice and to follow You with trust and joy. Help me also to reach out to others who feel left behind, so they too may know the love of the Shepherd. Amen.

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