Most stores have a lost and found department. It’s usually the last attempt to find a lost possession. We go there hoping that some kind, honest person has turned our lost item in. I call Luke chapter 15 the lost and found chapter. There resides three stories of things lost, one about a little lost sheep, one out of a hundred. “Then Jesus told them this parable. Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it. And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” One of the most beautiful poems I have ever found was written by a lady by the name of Ethel M.C. Brazelton entitled, “POOR LIL’ BRACK SHEEP”. It depicts a conversation between a shepherd and his hired servant , the “hirelin”.

POOR LIL’ BRACK SHEEP

dat sray’d away,

Done los’ in de win’ and rain,

An’ de Shepherd He say, O hirelin’

Go fin’ my sheep again.”

And de hirelin’ frowns, “O Shepherd,

Dat sheep am brack and bad.”

But de Shepherd He smile like de lil’ brack sheep

Is the onliest lamb he had,

Is the onliest lamb he had.

An’ he say, “ O hirelin, hasten!

For de win’ an’ de rain am col’,

And dat lil brack sheep am lonesome

Out dere so far from de fol’.”

And de hirelin; frown, “ O Shepherd

Dat sheep am ol’ an’ gray.”

But de Shepherd He smile like de lil’ brack sheep

Wuz fair as de break ob day,

Wuz fair as de break ob day.

An’ He say, “O hirelin’ hasten!

Lo, here is de ninety an’ nine,

But dere way off from de sheep fol’

Is dat lil’ brack sheep ob mine.”

An’ de hirelin’ frown, “O Shepherd,

De rest ob de sheep am here.”

But de Shepherd He smile like de lil’ brack sheep

He hol’ it de mostes’ dear,

He hol’ it de mostes’ dear.

An’ de Shepherd go out in de darkness,

Where de night was col’ an’ bleak,

An’ de lil’ brack sheep He fin’ it,

An lay it agains’ His cheek.

An’ de hirelin’ frown, “O Shepherd,

Don’t bring dat sheep to me.”

But de Shepherd He smile, an’ He hol’ it close,

An’ de lil’ brack sheep – is me!

An’ de lil’ brack sheep – is me!