The Crippled Lamb: A Christmas Story about Finding Your Purpose

This is such a sweet Christmas story that you would want to read to your children and or grandchildren. Even as an older person it is still a story worth reading.

This story tells how God can use us for his purpose and bless others even when we feel like we can't or are not enough or different or left out. This story made me cry because I found it so beautiful. We are all special and have a purpose even if we don't see it God does. If we could all see ourselves the way God sees us what a wonderful world this would be. I bought this book to read to my grand daughters. One was born with a heart condition and the other has Alopecia and is bald .

I gifted this to my grand. Her parents loves reading this to her

Pretty great book. A bit wordy for very small children but it has nice themes like friendship and how even when things seem unfair God has a plan. I dont really understand why crippled is now a negative word. Lame would have been more accurate but the lamb was in fact crippled. There is nothing wrong with the word for animals or people unless you see something wrong with being crippled. I don't. I grew up babysitting a girl in a wheelchair and that is a word she used because it just means different than the usual ability/mobility of a limb or whatever. She had many friends from the hospital and i never saw anyone hide from terminology because of hurt feelings. These kids had strong characters and all the more for the things they had been through with their particular disabilities. No one i was blessed to meet shyed away from facts or medical terms. In fact they could tell you as much about their conditions as their dr. I bet. Anyway i dont think it is negative to have different abilities and find nothing wrong with the word. In my experience disability adds strength rather than detracting from the person and there is nothing wrong with feeling sorry for yourself every now and then. You just continue to push through just like everyone wlse. No one is "perfect" but we are all perfectly as God made us and thats the point of the story. My little ones and i used the book to talk about overcoming personal challenge, how wonderful it is to have a great friend and be a great friend, about how someone may feel left out, how hurt teasing and bullying can make someone feel. Picture books are not made to be tossed at a kid as you walk off, they are an interactive thought provoking tool.

I am aware that there are several reviews here criticizing the use of the word "Crippled" and questioning the message the book sends about people with disabilities. I am the mother of a child with cerebral palsy, and I simply cannot agree with those reviews. When my son was little, this book was given to him as a gift from a dear friend who thought he would enjoy it, and she was so right. My son is now nearly 18, and he is a strong, happy, self-sufficient young adult, who does not think of himself as disabled. But as a very small child, despite our attempts to instill confidence in him, we could not protect him from thoughtless comments made by other people, and the fact that sometimes the other children made him feel different. This book gave him a different perspective on being a special needs child. The point of the story is that sometimes God has special blessings in store for the very people who feel the most left behind or overlooked. This message made my son very happy, and I can't tell you how many times he asked me to read again "the story about the handicapped lamb who got to see Jesus be born."I understand that many people object to the word "Crippled." Maybe it is a word that should be eliminated from our vocabulary, but we don't always have to refer to animals with the same words we use for describing people. I don't think "crippled" is necessarily an offensive word when describing an animal, but maybe it is. The story is set during the time of Christ's birth, and "crippled" is an old-fashioned word that seems to fit the story. I suppose it could have been called "The Lamb with a Physical Disability" or "The Special Needs Lamb," but "Crippled" has more of an old-world sound to it.The book has also been criticized for historical inaccuracies, saying that Mary would not have referred to the Baby Jesus as "the new king," nor would she say that he "came from heaven to teach us about God." I think it's perfectly alright to take these small liberties in order to get a message across. I don't think my son grew up believing that Mary actually said these specific things. What he took away from the story was the positive message about God having something special in store for a little lamb who was left behind because of his limp. I think we need to be careful about overthinking children's books. This story meant a great deal to my son during a difficult time in his emotional development. I would recommend it for any child, but especially for a child struggling with having been given a unique challenge to deal with. I think this book is wonderful.

My mom, Grandma, and I all love this book.

Art work is excellent

Arrived quickly, well-packaged, and good quality.

Beautiful story. I bought this to read to my little grandson who Hasan incurable illness and cannot walk properly. Max Lucado brings out the cruelty of others but how God can use each of regardless of our infirmities and frailities.

A great author helping to instill good morals in young minds. Would recommend the book for any young child - lovely to share a read with.

Really nice book for kids.

My kids liked it (not loved it)But for me it was a bit too soppy. Not as good as the Punchinello series.

That gives a simple yet straightforward explanation that they too have an important and unique role to play in God's kingdom and and as a person with a disability I know that I would have benefited greatly from hearing this message as a child it would have helped me immensely and it does my heart good to know that young children are growing up having access to books like these thank you Mr Lucado for writing such wonderful stories