A Lesson from the Chicken Yard

 

Grandmother Appling

    When I was little, Grandmother Appling would go to the chicken coop and pick out a chicken to kill for our meal. As usual, I followed her without any shoes on. Once inside the chicken yard, I regretted not wearing them because almost instantly I felt a soft substance oozing between my toes. Not wanting to miss what I knew was coming, I ignored it.

     Once Grandmother found the chicken she wanted, she grabbed it. Instantly, it began to squawk, causing all the other chickens to do the same. Feathers flew everywhere as she took it by the neck and began swinging it in circles above her head. In horror and fascination, I watched as she snapped its neck.

     Normally, the neck is broken, and the head doesn't come off. Only this time, it was a small chicken, and she used so much force that it detached from its body. When the headless chicken landed on the ground, it began to run around in circles. Seconds later, it stopped, and Grandmother picked it up.

     As we headed back to the house, I couldn't stop feeling sorry for the poor chicken. Supper or no supper, my heart hurt for it.


A Lesson from the Chicken Yard

I once knew a man who ran around like a chicken with its head cut off.

Never once did he pray and ask God to guide him in the way he should go.

With time, he became weary and discouraged, and people began to scoff.

He was tired and spinning out of control, though others didn't know.

When he finally prayed to God, he got an answer he didn't expect. 

"I gave you a special talent, yet you're spreading yourself too thin.

I'll guide you in the right direction when first with me you've checked."

That's when he realized to seek God's guidance again.

                                                   Patricia Westbrook

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10, NIV

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