by Colleen Spiro

On one particular retreat I was on many years ago, I was feeling drawn to the Good Shepherd and Psalm 23. After I went home, my spiritual director for that week sent me an article on the Holy Land Shepherds.
I was blown away by the story of how the shepherds will recite Psalm 23 each day and how many of the lines of the Psalm are actual duties of the Holy Land Shepherds. I would like to share some of it with you.
He leads me beside still waters. Sheep will not drink from fast flowing streams or any water that is gurgling. So the shepherds, if they can't find a pool of calm water, will cup their hands together so each sheep can drink.
He restores my strength. In the Holy Land each sheep keeps his place in line all day. But each sheep takes his turn to go to the shepherd who rubs the sheep's face and ears and basically shows the sheep his affection.
You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. At night the shepherd dips his hand into olive oil to help heal any injuries the sheep may have. Then the shepherd fills a large cup with water (overflowing.) The sheep will sink its nose into the water, right up to its eyes, and drink until refreshed.
Not surprising, after reading this, that Jesus chose to tell us he was the Good Shepherd. He knew the people would understand. The Good Shepherd cares for us with compassion and tenderness. He heals our wounds, quenches our thirst, and pours love into our hearts. And our cups overflow.

(Information taken from article found here in AuthorsDen.com, written by James K. Wallace, "The Basque Sheepherder and the Shepherd Psalm," Reprinted in the National Wool Grower, 1949, published in Reader's Digest, 1950, republished 1980)