He Restores My Soul

Aunt Bertie is the only person I’ve personally known who raised sheep. Her eight sheep used to huddle together in a corner of their lean-to. They were not the white fluffy cloud-looking sheep like you see in storybooks. They were dingy white and often had clumps of fur coated with dirt. So, when I read Psalm 23 and think about the Lord being our shepherd, I often think of these sheep and Aunt Bertie.

My sister and I used to spend weekends at her home from time to time. Honestly, it felt like staying in the most peaceful place ever. Not because of the farmland or the sheep, but because of her kind nature. She spoke with such tenderness and joy to us and her face lit up with a smile when she listened to our chattering. Her home was next door to the church and the way she used to talk about Jesus, you’d think He lived at her house. She spoke of His goodness, His love for us, and how He took care of her and the sheep. Her home was modest at best, and her spirit was the most welcoming, calming presence. We loved staying with her.

We were just kids, so we didn’t know the depth of her pain that had driven her firmly into the tender care of her Shepherd. Four tombstones in the church graveyard give witness of the lives that were once her family—three small ones for her babies, and one large one for her husband. She never got to see her children grow beyond toddler age and yet she lived with such love flowing from her being for us, her sister’s grandchildren. It’s as if God filled the depth of her pain over losing three babies with an equal amount of long-lasting, overflowing love. We weren’t the only children she loved that way. She had six sisters and one brother. The number of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews was impressive and every single one of us received unconditional, tender love from this woman.

The testimony of her relationship with Jesus Christ was her everyday life. She loved Him and she loved others. Simple as that. Psalm 23 says:

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (Psalm 23:1-3 NKJV)

To this day, when family gathers from distant places for special occasions or funerals, Aunt Bertie’s legacy of kindness and gentleness is often mentioned. I’d say that He restored her soul. He filled that deep wound with His perfect love that kept her going. The name of Jesus Christ was well-honored by Bertie Brown as she followed Him in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Prayer: Father God, help us follow You and trust You. You are our Shepherd who cares for us and restores us. We have and show peace when we stay close to You. We have all that we need because we have You. Thank You for all that You do to take care of Your flock. Help us honor You and Your good name with our lives. Amen.

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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.