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Good evening, little lambs. Tonight's story is called the same size honey cakes inspired by the gospel of Matthew twenty one to sixteen. Tonight, Jesus teaches us something wide and kind. God does not give his love by the hour. He keeps coming to invite us, and he loves to give every child a full share. When we start counting who did more, a glad heart can go sour. But God's goodness to someone else is never a theft from us. And so tonight we're back on Shepherd's Hill, the morning after the berries, where Biscuit learns what a full gift looks like. Dawn smelled of warm dust and crushed mint. The sun came up like a copper coin. A long, hot day was coming, and the shade tent by the well needed mending. Biscuit's golden tuft bounced first. I'll carry the water, she called. Clover's cream wool was soft, her blue scarf neat, her sprig already thoughtful. Little Bramble trotted with a coil of vine rope. Old Woolly sat in the first scrap of shade, silver grey, quiet as a kind fire, holding the tent pegs steady. They worked, dew dried. The well rope burned a little against biscuits hooves. Clover fetched mint for the tired ones. Bramble's small legs blurred back and forth. The sun sat heavy on their wool. Near the gate Matt stood a little outside, dark fleeced and still. He watched, he waited. He did not know how to push into a busy morning. No one quite saw him. By late afternoon the tent stood at last, mint cool underneath. Biscuit flopped down, proud and thirsty. We did it, she panted, since the very first light. That was when Jesus came along the path, warm as always. He looked at each of them as if that lamb were the only lamb in the meadow. Then he walked all the way to the gate. Matt, he said gently, why are you standing here? Matt's voice was small. No one asked me. I didn't want to be in the way. You come too, Jesus said. There is work and there is a place. Being asked is a kindness. I will not leave you unused. Matt's ears lifted. He carried one last water gourd under the new shade. The gourd sloshed, cool and heavy. It was not a long job, it was a real one. Evening came honey colored. Jesus sat under the tent and opened a leaf. On it lay the day's honey cakes, one for each lamb, golden and the same size, still smelling of the hive. He began with Matt. He set a whole cake in Matt's hooves, then clover, then bramble, then old woolly, then biscuit, last. Biscuit looked at Matt's cake. It was as big as hers. The counting rose up in her chest like a thistle. That's not fair, she blurted. Her tuft drooped. We carried water since dawn. We stood in the scorching heat. Matt only brought one gourd. You have made him equal to us. The circle went still. Clover's sprig tipped. Yesterday biscuit had gone last at the berry bush on purpose, and the last berries had tasted sweet. Tonight the comparing felt louder than the sweetness. Jesus did not frown. He looked at biscuit the way a friend looks, close and kind. Friend, he said, I am doing you no wrong. I promised you a full share, and here it is in your hooves. Take what is yours. It is my desire to give Matt just as much. I may be generous with what is mine. Is your eye going sour because I am good? Biskit's throat felt tight, then it loosened. The cake was still hers. Nothing had been taken. I thought more hours meant more love, Biskit whispered. Love is not pay for hours, Jesus said. My father keeps coming, early, noon, almost night, to invite every lamb. A late yes is still a yes. A full gift is a full gift. When I am good to Matt, I have not stolen from you. You may rejoice. The house has room. Old Wooly's voice felt like sitting next to a fire. A glad eye sees the master's open hooves, he said. Biscuits scooted closer to Matt. I'm glad you came, she said, and this time she meant it. They ate. The cakes were the same size. The belonging was the same size too, and so tonight we learn that Jesus does not measure his love with a clock. He invites us early or late, and he gives every child a full share. When someone else is welcomed, we do not lose our place. We can let our eyes stay glad, because He is good. Who could you cheer for tonight instead of comparing? Let's close our eyes now, safe on the green hill held by the shepherd whose hands are open for every lamb. Jesus, thank you that your love is a full share, not a prize for ours. Help my eyes stay glad when you are good to someone else. Amen. Good night, little lamb. God loves you so much. Sweet dreams,