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Good evening, little lambs. Tonight's story is called The Quiet Talk Under the Willow, inspired by the Gospel of Matthew eighteen fifteen to twenty. Tonight, Jesus teaches us something brave and gentle. When a friend hurts our feelings, we do not shout it to the whole hillside. We go to them kindly, just the two of us, and try to win our friend back, and when even two or three gather in his name, Jesus himself comes and sits right in the middle. And so tonight we're back on Shepherd's Hill, the morning after lantern time, where a quiet talk under the willow mends more than mint. Morning smelled of crushed mint and warm straw. Clover's blue scarf sat neat at her chin, her clover sprig tipping toward the light. Little Bramble hummed as she laid mint sprigs in a careful ring beside the willow, a tiny green nest just her size. After last night, when Jesus had set her in the middle and let her steady the lantern, she wanted to make something beautiful. Biskit bounced past, golden tuft straight up. Race you to the gate, she called, and her hoof caught the mint ring. Sprigs flew. My nest, Bramble peeped. Biskit laughed, not meaning to be unkind, only still bouncing. It's only mint, Bramble. You're so fussy for a little one. Bramble's ears lowered. Her hum went quiet. She held three broken stems as if they were still a circle. Clover saw. Her sprig drooped hard. That was not kind, she whispered. I will tell old Wooly. I will tell the whole morning circle. She turned toward the fold gate, words stacked like stones. That was when Jesus walked the willow path, warm as always. Where are you hurrying, little one? he asked gently. To tell, Clover said. Biscuit hurt Bramble, the whole hill should hear. Jesus sat on the cool willow root, so Clover could lean near. When a brother or sister hurts you or hurts someone you love, do not run first to the whole flock, he said. Go to them kindly, just the two of you. Show them the hurt with a soft voice. If they listen, you have gained your friend back. But what if she does not listen? Clover asked. Then you may ask one or two gentle helpers, Jesus said, not to pile on shame, to help the friendship heal. The aim is never to push a lamb out. The aim is to bring them home. He drew a small ring in the air. And listen well, where two or three gather in my name, really wanting my way of love, there I am, right in the middle of them. Clover looked at the scattered mint, then at Jesus' kind face. I will go to biscu alone first, she said. She found biscuit under the willow. Her voice shook, but stayed soft. Biscuit, when you knocked Bramble's nest and called her fussy for a little one, it hurt her. It hurt me too. You are my best friend. I want you back as the friend who sees small lambs. Biskit's tuft flattened. She looked, really looked, toward Bramble. I was bouncing too hard, she whispered. I did not mean to make her small. I am sorry. Will you come with me to tell her? Yes, said Clover, and her sprig lifted. Biskit knelt, so her eyes met Bramble's. I smashed your mint nest, she said, and I used little like it was a lesser word. That was wrong. Will you forgive me? May I help you build it again? Bramble listened. Listening, the lambs were learning, can be as holy as speaking. Then her ears rose. Yes, she peeped. You can hold the stems. They rebuilt the nest, three sets of hooves, careful and slow. When the green ring was whole, Clover said, Could we thank Jesus together? Just us three? They bowed their heads. Jesus, thank you for friends who listen, Clover prayed. Help us mend what gets broken. Stay with us. A warmth settled in the middle of their small circle, not a loud wind, only the sure nearness they knew by heart. When they opened their eyes, Jesus was there among them, smiling as if their agreement had invited him. Here I am, he said softly, where two or three gather in my name, I am in the middle. You chose kindness, you gained one another back. Biscuit leaned into his side. Bramble's hum returned. Clover's sprig stood straight and green. Old Wooly passed on the path, silver grey wool shining. He saw the three and the shepherd in their mint ring nest and nodded, voice like a fire you could sit beside. That is how a fold stays a fold, he said. So if someone hurts your feelings, you can be brave the Jesus way, go kindly, talk softly, listen well, and when even two or three gather to forgive and to pray, Jesus is right in the middle, keeping the circle warm. Dear Jesus, thank you for being with us when even two or three gather in your name. Help me go kindly to my friends when something hurts, and help me listen with a soft heart. Stay in the middle of our family tonight. Amen. Good night, little lamb. God loves you so much, sweet dreams.