Lesson from the Chickens

Yesterday on my way out to a quick trip to the library with my oldest son, I stopped at the chicken coop. Feeling sorry for those poor little girls, I let them out of the hen house. I knew I would be back soon and they looked so miserable and deserving of a little fresh air and freedom. Besides, the rest of the family was in the house and would hear if there was a problem.

Guess what was in our yard when I drove back in? A neighbor's big brown dog. And a pile of feathers. Macho Man and I were panicked, running around looking for any of our flock that was still with us. He found three in a far corner of the yard and for many long minutes that's all we thought was left. Thankfully, three more slowly came around. But we did loose two and everyone is mad at mom for such a careless mistake.

While I was running around looking for those chickens all I could think of was this verse, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8. I was thinking of my children. We keep a tight rein on ours, some may call us over protective. But it doesn't take much to protect them. All those hens needed was a little chicken wire and plywood between them and the rest of the world. All my kids need is an alert parent watching out for them, being there to diligently oversee.

It does get tiring and, often times hard, to continually go against the grain, for us and our children. And, the more you have, the more you have to be on watch. But this is a lesson learned for this mommy. Although there may be opportunities outside of the watchful eyes of the protectors, there are many dangers as well. It is not worth the risk we would be taking. "Let us not become wearing in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

So many will say, "You've got to let them go sometime." I say not yet. Not yet.

Let me take this lesson to heart.