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Good evening, little lambs. Tonight's story is called Pip and the Shadow on the Wall, inspired by the gospel of Matthew eleven twenty twenty four. Tonight's reading takes us back to a frightened king named Ahaz, whose heart shook like trees shaking in the wind when he heard scary news, but God didn't leave him alone with his fear. He sent someone to come close and say gently Be careful, keep calm, don't be afraid, don't let your heart grow faint. And he reminded Ahaz that the fierce, towering thing that scared him so much was really just two small smoking embers already burning low. And so tonight we're back on Shepherd's Hill, where the wind has picked up after dark, and a small lamb named Pip is about to learn that very thing. The wind arrived just after the stars came out, sudden and gusty, rushing down from the ridge and setting every blade of grass to shivering. Inside the fold, Biscuit slept on, one golden tuft of wool twitching with each gust. Old Wooly's breathing had gone slow and even by the banked fire. But Pip lay wide awake, her small grey body curled as tight as she could make it, her enormous dark eyes fixed on the old stone wall across the yard. Something was moving there, something huge, a great, hunched shape swayed against the stones, growing and shrinking, growing and shrinking with every howl of wind. Pip's whole body trembled, not just her legs, but all the way down to her small hooves, the way a young tree trembles when a storm bends it nearly double. Clover, she whispered, and her cream colored friend stirred beside her, blinking awake. Clover? Look, it's enormous. What if it what if it comes over the wall? Clover looked, and her breath caught too. In the wind and firelight the shape did look tremendous, dark and looming, and never quite still. That was when Jesus came and sat down between them unhurried, as though the wind wasn't even blowing. Pip, he said, and his voice was so steady that Pip's racing heart slowed just to hear it. Be careful, keep calm. There's no need to be afraid, and no need to let your heart grow faint. But it's so big, Pip whispered, not taking her eyes off the wall. I know it looks that way from here, Jesus said. Will you come and see it with me? He took her small hoof in his hand, and together, with Clover close behind, they crossed the yard, right up to the wall, right up to the enormous shape. And there it wasn't enormous at all. It was only the old crooked apple branch tossing back and forth in the wind, and behind it two low embers left glowing in the banked fire pit, tiny, dim, and already burning down to ash. From far away in the dark, the branch and the firelight together had made a shape that looked like it could swallow the whole fold. Up close beside Jesus it was just a bent branch and two small embers that would be cold by morning. It looks so big, Pip said softly, wonder replacing the fear in her voice. Frightening things nearly always do in the dark, from far away, Jesus said. That's why I don't ask you to make the wind stop, or to never feel your heart shake. I only ask you to keep your heart steady by staying close to me, because I am bigger than any shadow you'll ever face, and I'm not going anywhere. Pip looked up at him, her trembling almost gone now. Don't be afraid, she whispered, trying the words out for herself. Don't let my heart grow faint. That's it, Jesus said, smiling. They walked back together, and Pip curled up between Clover and the dying warmth of the fire, her small body finally still. The wind kept blowing outside the fold, rattling the old apple branch, but it didn't look so big anymore. It just looked like a branch, dancing in the wind exactly what it was. And so tonight we learned that when we feel afraid, God doesn't leave us alone with our fear. He comes close and speaks calm, steady words right to us. The things that frighten us in the dark almost always look bigger than they really are, and what matters most isn't that the scary feeling disappears completely, but that we keep our hearts steady by staying close to the one who is bigger than any shadow. Is there something that feels big and scary to you at night that you could look at a little closer hand in hand with Jesus? Dear Jesus, when the dark feels big and my heart shakes like a tree in a wind, come sit close beside me. Help me remember that you are bigger than any shadow, and that I never have to be afraid when I'm with you. Keep my heart calm and steady tonight. Amen. Good night, little lamb. God loves you so much, sweet dreams.