Good Shepherd was thrilled as was Danforth Sheepdog. A newborn lamb was birthed. His name was Lester. He had velvety fluffy snowy-white wool and a precious petite beige face with big expressive ebony eyes. Lying next to his proud mama, he was already peeking all around at the sheep that had arrived to rejoice with Good Shepherd, Danforth, and Mama Sheep. Blinking his generous dark eye-lashes and turning his perfectly-shaped head from side-to-side, he was an instant sensation with all those in attendance.

Good Shepherd could tell Lester was an inquisitive wee character, too. Danforth would have his paws full with this one, but Danforth was a good under-shepherd. There had in no way been a lamb birthed in this sheepfold that Danforth could not cope with. His procedures were imaginative and devoted. The sheep loved him.

Good Shepherd could rely on Danforth, too. He always provided the sheep of Sonshine Fold, this fold, superior nourishing fare when Good Shepherd had to pay a visit to His other folds. Danforth understood where the radiant living waters were located and how to safeguard the sheep from Westmoreland Wolf and his cronies. Danforth would unquestionably have his paws full with this lamb.

Good Shepherd decided He’d best put a bell on Lester from the onset. It would allow him to be less thorny to find. He recognized it would help Danforth. It would also permit the full-size rams to discover Lester’s location and mind him. Good Shepherd procured a thoughtfully tinkling tiny bell so as not to worry Lester. He tied it to Lester’s downy neck with a vivid red ribbon.

Lester waggled his head. He wasn't even keen on the limitation of such a sweet adornment.

“Yes," Good Shepherd thought, "this one will bear watching. Danforth and I have a bunch of effort afore we can mature Lester into a responsible sheep for this meadow. But he’ll do vast exploits for Me when he is developed. This one is a leader. Of that I am exceedingly confident!"

"Danforth, I put a bell on Lester. I believe he will be a challenge for you and I wanted to assist you that much from the outset.”

“Thank You, Good Shepherd. I agree. He’s an intelligent one isn’t he? He will be a great asset to Your fold, but we will have to train him first.”

“We are on the same page, Danforth. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome, Good Shepherd.”

Good Shepherd and Danforth started to assume they had been unfair to Lester. He did just as he was told. And it had been two weeks. He frolicked with the other early lambs. He attended Lamb School to discover how to be led and who he was meant to follow. He settled within the pasture the little lambs grazed in. Though he in truth was much more curious than the others, he took part in their games and was pleasant tempered with all his peers. At rest time he would cuddle up to his mama sheep and rest his head on her left arm. He wouldn’t rise until his mama said.

Then the third week started. First, Lester got his head wedged between the fence and the gate when he tried to bound after a periwinkle butterfly. His bleats could be heard two sheepfold away. Danforth tried to release him, but it took Good Shepherd sprinting from that other sheepfold to free little Lester with His staff.

Everyone looked up startled as an eerie howl sounded in the distance.

“Little One, you mustn’t be tempted to follow anything out of the sheep pen. That howl was Westmoreland Wolf. He waits for my sheep to be separated. When you are old enough, we will take you on a journey to the high pasture. There is ample time for adventure then,” said Good Shepherd.

Then, Lester injured his foot trying to loosen the latch on the gate. He had to miss Lamb School for a week. Now Danforth would have to tutor him. Poor Danforth – with all his other duties, too. But he loved the little scamp so he would make time.

Being lame and unable to move around, Lester grew surly. He snapped at the lambs that popped in. He nipped at Danforth during tutoring. But when he bit at Good Shepherd, Good Shepherd applied His rod. He loved Lester, so Lester had to be taught the way of Good Shepherd’s sheep.

Lester’s foot healed after a week. He was so excited. He loped and he frisked. He skipped and he danced. He was so happy.

He acted better, too. He was friendlier to his fellow lambs. He was respectful to Danforth. He loved and nuzzled Good Shepherd every chance he got.

"Danforth, the terrible two weeks we had with Lester seems to have taught him something.”

“I agree, Good Shepherd. I believe Your rod’s encounter made quite an impression.”

Good Shepherd laughed. He hadn’t intended to injure Lester and He hadn’t. Good Shepherd had merely gotten Lester’s attention. Then He and Danforth could accomplish their goal – a respectful resourceful young lamb to work for the betterment of the fold.

One day, as Lester and his friends were cavorting during Lamb School recess, Lester heard a terrible guttural growl. He timidly gazed up from the Lamb game of “Find the Clover” into the drooling jaws of Westmoreland Wolf.

The other lambs were frozen with fright, but Lester knew he must do something. He bleated, he shrieked, he jumped high, and then he ran drawing Westmoreland Wolf away from his friends.

At the last instant Lester heard another growl. This one he would recognize anywhere. It was Danforth! Westmoreland froze with his fangs a mere inch from Lester’s throat!

“Turn my lamb loose!” shouted Danforth.

“Uh, uh, Uh-oh!”Westmoreland exclaimed just as Good Shepherd’s crook clutched his neck.

Lester was saved! Good Shepherd patted him all over to ensure there were no hurts, and there were none. Lester had learned his lessons well even though he had missed a week of Lamb School. He knew to scream; he knew to run; he knew to raise such a ruckus that Danforth and Good Shepherd could not miss his need.

Good Shepherd praised him. Danforth nuzzled him and rubbed him. His lamb friends jumped around him and butted him playfully. Lester’s mama licked his little face as he snuggled with her for a well deserved rest.

Lester began to grow. All parts of him: his body and his mind and his heart developed into the lamb Good Shepherd wanted him to be. Lester became a guide among the lambs. They all remembered how Lester had saved them from Westmoreland Wolf.

He had learned not to roam away from the troupe. Still a lamb, he knew he required the protection the big rams could afford him. Danforth said that the elders were wise and good to help the young ones learn Good Shepherd’s ways.

Lester listened attentively to Good Shepherd. A smart lamb, Lester wanted to do really marvelous exploits for Good Shepherd.

But, Lester would still have lessons to learn. So, he would begin learning from the high meadow. He had arrived! Good Shepherd was taking him up there next week.