And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” - Luke 2:10
These are the words the angel heralding the arrival of Jesus spoke to the low-life shepherds tending their flocks in the fields.
These words reveal the beauty and honor that come from serving… from learning to give to becoming a better leader.
Whether you are religious, spiritual, or none of the above, I hope you read will today's article with a certain lens of curiosity and willingness as we cover a small and sometimes unmemorable detail found within the Christmas account.
Out of all the people out and about that day, it was the Shepherds working the fields who were told about the glorious birth of a savior.
It was them whom God entrusted with the sacred message that was the arrival of a king.
And this, to me, is heartwarming but seemingly backward. Why share such great news with so few of little credibility and social status?
Yet it is this very notion that warms my soul. God was choosing to honor the givers first.
What's more, is it not fascinating to consider how so many of the legends of the Bible's Old Testament were shepherds before they were ever heroes?
To name a few, there is Abraham, who became the father of a nation; Moses, who led that nation out of captivity; and, at the appointed time, David, who became their king.
Not to mention Jesus, the man whose miraculous birth this season commemorates, the man remembered as a shepherd towards the people, guiding them in wisdom toward a better life.
With so many occurrences, it is hard to argue that it is a coincidence. No, being a shepherd molds a person into the qualities required to be a great leader—the kind who leads truthfully, with purpose and tenderness.
To keep a flock requires patience, focused and intentional labor, and a will to fight for your sheep if something was ever to bring them close to danger. It is not an easy job nor one that guarantees popularity, but it leads to a servant's heart.
The old adage proclaiming that one should “lead by example” rings true here, and with this much evidence as to its credibility, it's easy to understand why.
Giving shapes your understanding. Working behind the scenes broadens your knowledge. And being willing to give it all for those under your wing demonstrates true belief in what you are working towards.
In a good shepherd lies the makings of a great leader. So don’t despair when you spend a couple of nights in the cold or need to fight a bear or two to keep safe that which you care for.
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This week, embrace the shepherd mentality and lead by giving, serving, and protecting
those under your care when danger bears its teeth.
It might not always be the most glamorous of jobs, but when good news comes, you’ll be the first to hear it, and more importantly, you will be the one charged with spreading it for the world to hear.
Farewell, Merry Christmas, and God Bless.
- Making The Most Of Being Curious
Daniel J. Cuesta
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