He will watch over you night and day

have you ever prayed "The Lord is my Shepherd" from Psalm 23? when ancient jews prayed that special prayer, they'd feel inner warmth in their hearts. some would close their eyes and maybe even shed a tear or two. because they knew what it meant to be a shepherd. they felt it. they knew the toil, the sacrifice, the hardship of being a shepherd that loves his sheep. if there was danger, he wouldn't sleep at night or take coffee breaks or read a pocketbook or even text someone on his cellphone. he'd just watch and be ready to lay down his life for his sheep.

but when modern filipinos pray the prayer of Psalm 23, the only reason we feel an inner warmth in our hearts is if we had just eaten too much Crispy Pata before praying and have a heartburn.

so, to help you feel what it means to be a shepherd, i ask you to think about your first pet.

mine was a chicken. well, it was first a tiny chick, and then a chicken. finally, it became fried chicken, but that's going ahead of the story.

i cared for that chicken with my life. after a couple of months, my chick grew up and i started playing all sorts of games with her: running, jumping, pecking. but during the day, i went to school. and i guess that's why one day, i came home and discovered my feathered friend in a platter with fries and catsup. i wasn't there for her when someone became hungry, someone who to this day has remained anonymous to me. i guess i wasn't such a great shepherd, because shepherds need to be constantly there, protecting and caring, twenty-four hours a day.

but thank goodness, God isn't like me at all.
He's here for you for life.
permanently.
eternally.
you won't be anyone's fried chicken.
or shish kebab for that matter.
He'll never leave you for one moment.
He'll never take siestas or coffee breaks or read a pocketbook or text anyone on his cellphone.

He will watch over you, night and day.

never lose hope.