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Outdoor sunrise meadow; golden light bathes Shepherd standing in tall grass with a warm smile, arms outstretched toward running lambs. Behind a nearby tree, Caleb peeks shyly, ears perked.
The sun peeked over the green meadow. The Shepherd walked through the soft grass with a smile. He called out in a warm voice, "Good morning, Snowflake! Good morning, Patches! Good morning, Dandelion!" Each lamb ran to him when they heard their name. Little Caleb the lamb watched from behind a tree. He felt very small and quiet. Does the Shepherd know my name too, he wondered.
Sunny meadow noon; Caleb sits under the same tree, head lowered and woolly knees tucked, watching distant lambs leap and butt playfully in bright grass. Light shadows fall through leaves above him.
Caleb stayed near the tree while the other lambs played. "Come play with us!" called Snowflake. But Caleb shook his woolly head. "I am too quiet," he said softly. "The Shepherd might not know I am here." Patches hopped over. "The Shepherd knows everyone," she said. But Caleb was not sure. He had never been very loud or fast like the others. Maybe he was too easy to forget.
Afternoon sun over meadow; Shepherd kneels beside the shady tree, gentle smile meeting Caleb's wide eyes as he reaches to touch the lamb's head. Tall grass and scattered daisies sway around them.
The Shepherd counted his lambs that afternoon. "I see Snowflake, Patches, and Dandelion," he said. Then he looked around the meadow carefully. "But where is Caleb?" The Shepherd walked toward the tree. Caleb's ears perked up. The Shepherd knows my name! The kind Shepherd smiled and knelt down. "There you are, Caleb. I have been looking for you." Caleb's heart felt warm and happy.
Golden late-day light stretches across the meadow as Shepherd strolls toward distant lambs, hand resting on Caleb's wool while the lamb mid-jump beams with delight. The flock grazes softly under a pink sky.
Caleb walked beside the Shepherd back to the other lambs. "You know my name," Caleb said with wonder. The Shepherd gently patted his head. "Of course I do. I know each of my lambs by name, even the quiet ones." Caleb felt brave and jumped with joy. "I am known!" he bleated happily. From that day on, Caleb never doubted. He was small, but he was loved and known.