“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house.” Psalm 36:7-8a

The first thing my brilliant husband (seriously!) did once we knew chickens were, indeed, coming to our home was to design and build a chicken coop. Now, this was not to be any ordinary coop. We both determined that if we were going to do this, we were going to do it right (whatever that means)! It was not to be an eyesore, since it would be viewed from many of our windows. It would be painted the same color as our house. It would have a chicken run completely enclosed to keep other critters out. It would have a chandelier! Of course, duh! Chickens have feelings, too! Which would you rather have in your house, a chandelier or a naked light bulb hanging from a cable? Exactly! (Truth is it’s a small chandelier that we had in storage and it’s not that fancy, but it sounds exotic, so yeah!) We refer to it as – wait for it – A Chicken Palace. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

Our chicken palace was built for the pleasure and protection of our beloved brood. It is a place where they can lay their eggs in peace and quiet. A place where they’re safe from predators and storm. A place where they can develop and grow and learn the value of life and service . . . ok, I’m getting carried away, but you get the idea.

Strange thing is, though, we found 20 eggs under a bush one day, 9 eggs by the front door in the dirt another day, and 6 eggs in the dirt by the sliding glass door next to the kitchen a few days later. All that work my husband went to was rejected.

It got me to thinking: Our Heavenly Father, Putter forth of power, Jehovah God, in abundant love, has been busy on our behalf designing our paths, purchasing our future with the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, and building His Kingdom with our best in mind – and we hurry past it and live out our lives as if we have no safe place to be. He offers us filet mignon and we choose to live on Hamburger Helper. He offers us warmth under a protective wing and we huddle under a drippy branch. 

Sometimes we just don’t get it – just like the chickens.