Fostering the chicks
After three months of fostering 2 little chicks, it was time for them to go to their forever home with my friend Jean. My heart was sad but I know that she will treasure them and keep them safe, but wait…that’s not how the day started.
Yawning, I turned the shower on but the phone rang and off went the shower.
I need you. I need Bill. My goose was attacked and she’s laying in the yard fighting for her life. She’s still alive. Please send Bill to help me. I can’t handle this on my own.
Now Bill had just closed his eyes for a much deserved afternoon nap. Putting my hand on his shoulder, I whispered that our friend needed him. He didn’t pause although he did sigh when I told him why she needed him. Changing his clothes, he asked what she wanted for him to do. That, I could not answer. This was not his favorite kind of call to take, as you may imagine.
“BUT IF ANYONE HAS THE WORLD’S GOODS AND SEE HIS BROTHER IN NEED, YET CLOSES HIS HEART AGAINS HIM, HOW DOES GOD’S LOVE ABIDE IN HIM?” -1 JOHN 3:17
Waiting for him to return, I decided to start preparing the casseroles for several families that I had promised. As I was shredding the chicken, I was looking out my kitchen window and see the irony as my live chickens ran around the back yard.
Over an hour later, Bill returned home.
What took you so long?
She wanted me to save the goose. Because this had happened yesterday, the goose had flies surrounding it…she was in pain, so I “put her down”. I dug the hole and she is at rest now. (By the way, by “her”, he was referring to the goose. You probably knew that, but…) The other 45 minutes was spent talking to her and comforting her.
“BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL FOR THEY SHALL RECEIVE MERCY.” –MATTHEW 5:7
Oh, and I told her that we may want 1 male and 1 female goose.
Looking around, I tried to locate my husband…I could not understand what he was saying. This is the same man that says we have enough.
But they are geese that warn the chickens of predators.
Uh, huh…
They will stay with the chickens.
Uh huh…
*Our friends always call me the crazy chicken/dog lady. Sooo, who is who around here? Just sayin’…
Before he went to lay back down for his nap, I told him our other friend, who is retired and couldn’t start with the baby chicks, was coming to pick up the little ones we’d had for 3 months – the ones we had fostered for her. No doubt that Bill was as attached to them as I was. I realize this sounds ridiculous, but oh…so…true. We went out to the pen to visit with them when our friend arrived. We chased them down and put them in a box. I ran back into the house, as she was one of the casserole recipients. Again, I found it ironic as I placed her chicken casserole in the front seat of her car while HER beautiful chickens were in the backseat.
“DO NOT NEGLECT TO DO GOOD AND TO SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE, FOR SUCH SACRIFICES ARE PLEASING TO GOD. “ –HEBREWS 13:16
Meanwhile, I get a text message from our 11-year-old neighbor. He reports that the dozen eggs I gave him for his school project ALL HATCHED. (Oh fantastic.)
Adam, I’m so glad for you. What does that mean?
Ms. Summer, You may pick them up on Wednesday because school is out on Thursday.
Perfect. Now, we will have a dozen more chicks that are 2 weeks old and un-sexed, meaning we may have 12 roosters. We won’t know until we get perfectly attached with love to each one of them. I can’t wait! I don’t even know how they sex them until they are 5 or 6 months old. I’ve heard wives tales about how to sex them; but that’s not scientific. (Lay them on their backs and if their legs stretch out they are roosters…or is it hens? I can’t even remember the wives tale!)
Bill doesn’t seem to be bothered by any of this…not one of these things. I wonder if being married to me has him used to being on your toes at all times. He acts as if all of this is natural. The one thing I know is this. I know this is love.
As I sit and reflect on this single day in my life, I understand that I need to thank God for the big and the small things every single day. Besides that, if I don’t thank him in the good times as well as the bad, especially today, I may not have time after Wednesday when we include a dozen chicks and 2 adolescent geese…geese.
“DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERY SITUATION, BY PRAYER AND PETITION, WITH THANKSGIVING, PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS TO GOD.” –PHILIPPIANS 4:6
You know that those geese will probably head from Virginia to Texas to my friends in the winter! And, you’re welcome! I guess I need to look into baby pools? I don’t have a pond except for the one in front of the house. It might hold tadpoles. I can’t see it holding even one goose. They are going to need water. Right? Oh man…I guess I’ll need to join another FB group, where we pray about someone’s goose that may or may not make it because of some stupid nature creature that attacked it. Don’t get me wrong, we prayed for a sick rooster last summer that deserved the prayers to God; BUT I noticed that he had 75,000 followers. Yes. Yes, he did.
The truth is that in having the animals it helps to keep me active. Left to my own devices, I might let this arthritis, the kind that has my joints degenerating at a rapid pace and that tries to strangle my everyday activity, actually strangle me to a chair. There is a reason and a season for every single one of the animals inside and outside of our house. God knew before I was born what I would need and he provides. He provided for me prior to my own birth.
“THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING, AND A SEASON FOR EVERY ACTIVITY UNDER THE HEAVENS.” –ECCLESIASTES 3:1
Now this day…this day that I am telling you about didn’t end yet. We soon left after receiving a call from another neighbor down the road to please come to their house, now. Without explanation, we put our shoes on and left the house. After arriving there, Bill met with the husband and I went inside and met with the wife. We prayed together for what this family is encountering. No details needed except that I praise God for this day. I praise him because he never lets me out of his sight. He knows what I need. He knows who needs him.
Am I perfect? No. Am I a Christian, even when people say “and you call yourself a Christian”? Yes. I am his daughter. I am his imperfect, chosen, loveable and tired daughter; but I get up and receive new joy every morning. I have never been happier.
“IN HIM WE WERE ALSO CHOSEN, HAVING BEEN PREDISTINED ACCORDING TO THE PLAN OF HIM WHO WORKS OUT EVERYTHING IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PURPOSE OF HIS WILL, IN ORDER THAT WE, WHO WERE THE FIRST TO PUT OUR HOPE IN CHRIST, MIGHT BE FOR THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY.” –EPHESIANS 1:11-12
Did I mention that I still didn’t get that shower I started on this day? No one seemed to care and I frankly, I didn’t either. God knows. As we know and we know now that “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”
This entire day reminds me of how much I love God. He is the Word. He sacrificed everything for me. So I believe I can spend time with him everyday. Most of all, I’m a believer.
Are you in a season of life you don’t understand? Do you ask why things happen? Lets talk about it. Lets find him in the details of what’s happening in your life. There’s nothing more exhilarating or satisfying than knowing there is a plan – which the Holy Spirit moves in your life. There is no such thing as perfect.
Chick Can Do 