Heaven Has Blue Carpet: A Sheep Story by a Suburban Housewife

by Sharon Niedzinski

One woman's impulsive foray into sheep herding provides an unexpected education in God's shepherding love for His people. Sharon Niedzinski and her family never expected their lives to change so quickly. It all started with an unsolicited call from their realtor--their dream farm had come up for sale. A new life in an old farmhouse seemed like the perfect adventure. As Sharon fixed up the house, she looked at the green pastureland outside, and a new theme "New England Countryside." She ordered a flock of white Columbia ewes to match the Waverly plaid wallpaper, matching curtains and blue carpet. She had no idea what she was in for...

While dealing with orphan lambs, tail cuttings and foot rot, Sharon began to experience firsthand the amazing truths buried in the many Scriptures referencing God as our Shepherd. Through hilarious, heart-tugging stories, the author tells how those truths radically changed her life and brought her closer to our hard-working, sweat-stained, real-life Shepherd--Jesus.

Genres: Book Club

177 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 14, 2008

Reviews

[Debbie Mcfarlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One minute I'm laughing my head off and then the next, I'm bawling my eyes out. Ms. Niedzinski shares her delightful antics as a shepherdess. Not only are her stories true and very interesting and funny, but her writing takes you right there beside her as she carries out her sheep duties. I was so delighted with her family and their experiences, I wanted to go there and meet them all in person. I did the next best thing, I bought another copy to read again. (I loaned out my first copy and it got passed on, but I'm ok with that too.)

[Nicole Thomson]

An animal who trusted her owner, only to be abandoned to the slaughter? Regardless of the animal breed, this beautiful sheep, Joey, was treated as a pet - the equivalent is a dog that is raised and then taken to be put down.
I do not believe that God as our Shepherd is anything like this. This was a very upsetting book and not at all uplifting.

[Cheryl Swenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Bible study or devotional.

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well . . . I finished it. If you read my comment half way through you will see that I didn't want to. I was crushed by the author sending "Joey" their adopted baby lamb off to the slaughter house while it looked deeply into her eyes asking "Why?". I could not believe they could do this to a lamb they literally took into their house as a pet - their children played with - they bottle fed and diapered - they had snuggling on the couch with them . . . then . . . BAM . . . SLAUGHTER!!! Well after a few weeks . . . I finished it. Why? Because that's what I do. I "finish". I've always been happy I was a finisher and not a "starter" (someone who starts many things and leaves them when something better comes along - know people like that??? Yea - I do - unfortunately).

So . . . what did I like about this book? I liked the reference to their daily trials and tribulations and the scripture that helped make sense of it all. I liked reading about the animals, their personalities and how we are very much like sheep. What I didn't like about this book? Well . . . you've already figured that out - I'm an animal lover and I assumed when I started reading that the sheep were going to be used for wool - not to eat (guess that's why I'm a vegetarian).

Would I recommend it? There's a lot of good points about the book - it's up to you on whether you want to think about all these sheep being raised for slaughter or not. Knowing me, I wouldn't have read it if I knew that up front.

Be blessed, as you bless others.

[Penny]

I read this book along with my mother, sister, and sister-in-law as a Bible study. We live many miles apart, so reading a book together is a good way for us to keep in touch and learn more about God's Word together. While this book does not contain a formal set of questions, it provides many poignant examples through anecdotes about why we are so much like sheep. Many of the stories are humorous, but there is always a connection to scripture and life application. I also learned about sheep and shepherding. I am not in the market for buying sheep, but it was very interesting to learn about them. This is a great book if you love reading zaney animal stories, how we are just as zaney as they are, how God is our great shepherd, and how we can learn from His example.

[Elaine Littau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Niedzinski was a 'city girl' who moved with her husband and children to the countryside of New England. She had not experience with farm animals and country living. One day she decided to buy a flock of sheep. Even though it was her project, her husband and children pitched in.

She spent hours upon hours pouring over books about sheep. The tasks of a shepherd are difficult. She took on all of this with a firm hand and a good sense of humor.

In her studies of shepherding, she learned so much about God, The Good Shepherd. She relates these lessons in a way that is fresh and exciting. Her thoughts on the sheep were spot on in comparison to Christians. I recommend this book for those who would like to experience a deeper experience with our Shepherd.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept. This is a much elongated concept of the one Margaret Feinberg explored in Scouting the Divine.

This book is set up well for a discussion group. I love the metaphors and how the author unabashedly shared what they learned about faith from being shepherds. As a family.

Unfortunately about half way through the book lagged for me and I suspended my reading of it for a couple months. The end lagged a little, but then the last chapter was great. Glad I stuck it out for that last story, but I realized somewhere in the very middle that, though I liked the metaphor, I wasn't interested in such a deep level of detail.

Maybe if I was in a book club.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is delightful, fun tale of a woman who became a Sheep Farmer and how the Lord showed her the reality, grit, joys, and truths of the relationship she shares with Him. She has a very spirited delivery and each page engages you to keep reading, keep hearing to know "what happens next". Some stories will make you cry, some will make you laugh out loud, and some are just profound with clarity of our 'sheep' likeness. Thank you Jan Merritt for passing this along to me.

[Kelly Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how this book appeared on my shelf and I don't know why I selected it as my next book to read. I didn't know what to expect when I did so. But I'm so glad I did!

This is a delightful and easy, yet profound, read - a woman's insights into the ubiquitously used metaphor in Scripture of the Lord as the Shepherd and we people as His sheep, inspired by her years of learning to shepherd her own real sheep when she and her family left suburbia for a farm.

[Juanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since we raise sheep people are always asking me what I have learned concerning sheep as related to being a sheep in God's pasture. This is the best book I have read that answers that question. It is not technical in nature. It is lessons taken from her inexperienced attempt to raise sheep. Read it you will gain lots of insights about yourself as a sheep.

[Cheryl Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts were very inspiring and thoughtful. I thought the constant use of scripture was getting a bit too much towards the end. The verses chosen didn't quite fit into the narrative.

Overall, it was nice to have an easy read.

[William W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This very cute book is the primer for our next 8 week sermon series. Very moving to see how this laywoman interprets her life with God via the sheep / shepherd allegory.

[Janice Baucom · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting, but I did not enjoy it that much.

[Lonnie West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read about sheep and shepherds.

[Katina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching, funny, and inspirational.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book! I found myself laughing and crying in just a few sentences! I felt like the author really was able to explain why are Gods sheep in need of a Shepard!