Chickens, Part II

I've learned a lot about chickens in the last few weeks.  They are often classified as not too smart.  They will kick their food out of the dish, they will kick bedding into the water dish, sometimes they will shiver rather than go toward the heat lamp, and sometimes, you may have to gently put a chicken's beak in the water to get it to drink. 

This morning, while cleaning out one of the brooder compartments, one with chicks in it that we have had two full weeks now, I was impressed with how terrified these chicks are of me.  We have fed them, cleaned their bedding, provided fresh, clean water, and provided adequate heat as their feathers are growing in.  But they are still terrified to be held.  We are told that the more time a chick spends being held and in contact with humans, the tamer they will be as adult chickens around humans.

I suppose they don't know what is going on, for the most part, and are scared, wondering what I will do to them.  Yet it is a neat principle for us to understand: the more the contact, the more comfortable they become.  On the spiritual side, the more contact we have with God, through prayer and time in His Word, the more comfortable we are with Him.  As we learn and grow, the difficulties in life won't terrify us as they did before, because we'll trust God's hands.  We won't doubt His plan and how it is playing out in our lives, because we have become comfortable with His handling of us.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.   - Psalm 16:11

God's presence is terrifying to think of in terms of His holiness and righteousness, but when we understand His love, kindness, and care for us, His presence can be a source of joy in our lives.

Chickens!

No, I'm not calling names.  We have recently been working at raising chicks.  That will be my excuse of the day for not blogging for the last several weeks.  We are well into the process of raising chickens - a pretty, red coop in the side yard, a reinforced run for the chickens to roam in, and heat lamps in the brooder room full of 22 baby and not so baby chicks.  They range from a few days old, up to 4-5 weeks old at this point.  We have Cornish Rock (meat birds), Rhode Island Red, White Leghorn, Amberlinks, and some assorted birds that we are unsure of what they are as of yet. 

This far into the process, we have learned something.  Chickens are a lot of work!  Building the coop, preparing the brooders, cleaning the brooders, feeding and watering the chickens.  There has been plenty to do!  There hasn't been any complaints about all the work, as of yet.  The families love for the cute, cudly chickens, and my love for designing and building things have made the work light. 

We heard that chickens are easy to raise, and I guess in comparison, they are right.  Compared to children, chicks are low maintenance.  Compared to cows, they don't eat very much.  Compared to elephants, they don't soil their bedding much. 

Then I think of our Heavenly Father.  He not only provides for the chickens of the field (loose translation), and the flowers of the field, but He provides for us.  What a lot of work that must entail on a daily basis - but my God is up to the task, and has the love to mean that the work will not become a burden to him.

As you think of the work you have in caring for your responsibilities, remember the joy Our Heavenly Father has in caring for His responsibilities and smile, realizing that even though His burden is so great, He has promised to take all of our cares upon Him as well.

Humble yourselves therefore 

under the mighty hand of God, 

that he may exalt you in due time:

Casting all your care upon him; 

for he careth for you.- I Peter 5:6-7