In our congregation's shepherding program, one family is designated the neighborhood "shepherd." This family invites ten other nearby church families into their home for a get-acquainted meeting.

One shepherd was jubilant when all ten of her invitees expressed interest in attending. However, on the day of the event, only two families came. Afterward, she commented ruefully, "I started out feeling like the Good Shepherd, but wound up feeling like Little Bo Peep."