Chicken Scratchings

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  James 1:2-4; Roman 8:28

One of the responsibilities of chicken farmers is to dust chickens for mites, itty bitty nuisances that can cause health problems for the chickens and, therefore, reduce egg production. This was our job this morning. When we address this issue we have to capture the chickens one at a time, an event they protest against vehemently. It often requires chasing the hen around the run, cornering it, sometimes pulling several tail feathers out in the process, wood chippings flying, slaughter house shrieks (often from me). At other times, it requires us (and I mean Will) to crawl under the coop through . . . well, use your imagination. The escapees hide in dark corners and nesting boxes. They run screaming, “No, you’re big and scary! Leave me alone!”

Once we (and I mean Will) catch a chicken, we sooth her with petting and kind words, offering her our sympathy. . . then we flip her over and violate her modesty. Will searches through all the feathers to find her vent, which is the technical word for her private part, because that’s where most of the mites like to live. I warn you, chickens resist this procedure. I can’t say I blame them. They crane their necks up and glare at us as if to say, “I beg your pardon!” Will then works a dusting powder into the feathers, moving upwards to the neck. As soon as he is done dusting each hen, he gently picks her up, flips her over and releases her to carry on with her day. She shakes herself soundly and huffs away.

We do this for their good, so why do they oppose it, for Pete’s sake? They’re so ungrateful! We care about them! We want them to be healthy! Don’t they get it?!

Hmmm. It’s highly possible God experiences the same frustration with me. After all, He wants my best. He works for my good. He loves me. And yet every time He brings a strengthening moment or a it’s-for-your-good situation or a I’m watching-out-for-you event, I crane my spiritual neck and glare at God as if He were out to do me harm.

I’m sorry, God. I’m a bit of a feather-brain sometimes.

Conie

 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” I Peter 5:8; James 4:7

As I write this, I’m sitting at the picnic table on our back patio standing (sitting) guard, watching over the new pumpkin and melon patch. Somehow chickens have been getting in and digging for food, disrupting our new plants, destroying our perfect mulch mounds that protect tender growth. It’s my mission to see how they keep getting in. My hubby has fenced the plants in with a 4 ft. fence. He’s strung wide fabric tape 6” above that and another 10” above that – all the way around and yet somehow those little suckers are finding a weakness in our de-fence (spelling mine) and still getting in. So here I sit, watching, waiting to discover how they do it so I can counter their moves with my authority over them and our patch.

I’m vigilant, watchful. The way we’re supposed to be with the roaring lion pursuing our destruction. How does Satan get in? Where does he find our weaknesses? Am I as watchful in my defense against him as I am vigilant against sneaky chickens?

Conie

 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (James 1:17; Romans 8:32; Matthew 7:11; I Thessalonians 5:18)

I woke up this morning with a bad attitude. A I’m-tired-of-my-life-poor-me attitude. A I-wish-I-had-a-maid-and-a-cook-and-a-gardner-doggonit! attitude. A why-can’t-my-life-be-like-Queen-Elizabeth’s? attitude. You get the picture? Yup. I had a bad attitude. Give it up to God, our gentle, patient, loving Father, for not striking me dead on the spot; instead, he suggested I take a walk around our property. Oh, and take your gratitude journal with you, He said.

The first thing I did was to let the girls out. I'm thankful for chickens. They were climbing over each other to be the first to fly out of their imprisonment. A very vocal bunch fled captivity into freedom, either complaining that I hadn’t let them out sooner or thanking me for releasing them. I’m not sure which. I haven’t had them long enough to learn their language. I’m sure that will come in time, right?

Within seconds they began to look for food, pecking in grass, in dirt, in mulch, in compost, and it dawned on me that these creatures instinctively expect good. They didn’t timidly exit the run and then stand there looking pitifully around wondering if there was anything good to be found. They intuitively knew it was there. They just had to look for it.

Humility comes when you learn valuable lessons from poultry. God reminded me, via the chickens, that He is the giver of good gifts. I just need to open my physical and spiritual eyes and see those gifts. They’re all around me. Goodness abounds. The answer to my discontent is just under that blade of grass. Peace and contentment are a peck away.

I filled a page in my gratitude journal this morning.

Conie

“Trust in the LORD, and do good. Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” (Ps. 37:3 emphasis mine)

One of the things we quickly noticed about chickens is that they eat all day. Seriously, if I ate as much as them, I’d waddle side to side when I run, too. They’re either eating the feed we give them or they’re pecking the ground for bugs or they’re eating grass or they’re pecking through their own poo (the technical word for it) or they’re pecking through our compost. All. Day. Talk about a one-track mind!

Oh, that I may feed on His faithfulness, that I may find nourishment in His goodness, that I may discover sustenance in the knowledge of His Word as tenaciously as the chickens feed on bugs, grass, and grain.

God, give me a good appetite!

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in Him. . . There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  I John 4:16, 18-19; Deut. 6:4

Some of our “ladies” (Ok, fine, chickens) have mastered the art of curtseying. They’ve spent years in charm school learning this, as well as French, needlepoint, and the piano forte. As a result of this fine training, when we walk by them they will stop in their tracks, quiver a little, and squat down (I mean curtsey). Sadly, this isn’t because they respect us. It isn’t because they love us, either. It’s not even because they recognize our goodness to them – you know, the fact that we feed them and make sure they have water and we throw watermelon to them and we scrape their poo boards so their coop doesn’t stink and dust them for mites (no wonder we’re tired). Nope. None of these. The reason they curtsey is fear. Fear causes their obeisance, their compliance. It’s at this point, however, that we can pick them up, pet them, speak lovingly to them, sing John Denver tunes to them, but to no avail. Its only effect is our joy. We alone delight in these moments.

I’m grateful that what I have with my Master isn’t so one sided. He delights in His people and we can delight in Him (Psalm 16:3; 18:19; 37:4, 23). Because of His great mercy and grace and His gift of salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, my relationship with Him is marinated in the delight of His love. God designed this relationship to be holy and unique and precious. Two-sided. Love for love.

“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.