I loved this analogy when my friend Laura read it to me:

“When a shepherd seeks to lead his sheep to better grass up the winding, thorny mountain paths, he often finds that the sheep will not follow him.  They fear the unknown ridges and the sharp rocks.  The shepherd will then reach into the flock and take a little lamb on one arm and another on his other arm.  Then he starts up the precipitous pathway.  Soon the two mother sheep begin to follow, and afterward the entire flock.  Thus they ascend the tortuous path to greener pastures.

So it is with the Good Shepherd.  Sometimes He reaches into the flock and takes a little lamb to Himself.  He uses the experience to lead His people, to lift them to new heights of commitment as they follow the little lamb all the way home.” -J.V. McGee

What an honor that the Lord might see fit to use this experience with Judson to lift many to new heights of commitment as we follow the Good Shepherd, even through thorny mountain paths, all the way home.