I Was a Wand'ring Sheep

A hymn by Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

I was a wand'ring sheep,

I did not love the fold;

I did not love my Shepherd's voice,

I would not be controlled.

I was a wayward child,

I did not love my home;

I did not love my Father's voice,

I loved afar to roam.

The Shepherd sought His sheep,

The Father sought His child;

They followed me o'er vale and hil,

O'er deserts waste and wild.

They found me nigh to death,

Famished and faint and lone;

They bound me with the bonds of love,

They saved the wand'ring one.

They spoke in tender love,

They raised my drooping head;

They gently closed me bleeding wounds,

My fainting soul They fed.

They washed my filth away,

They made me clean and fair;

They brought me to my home peace,

The long-sought wanderer.

Jesus my Shepherd is,

'Twas He that loved my soul;

'Twas He that washed me in His blood,

'Twas He that made me whole.

'Twas He that sought the lost,

That found the wand'ring sheep;

'Twas He that brought me to the fold,

'Tis He that still doth keep.

No more a wnd'ring sheep,

I love to be controlled;

I love my tender Shepherd's voice,

I love the peaceful fold.

No more a wayward child;

I seek no more to roam,

I love my heavenly Father's voice,

I love, I love His home.

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Oh, I love this. It makes me want to fly to heaven right now and finally be with my tender Shepherd who sought me and found me and loves me!