The Great Chicken Adventure - Guest Blog by Aleta Burns

The great chicken adventure is well underway and I’ve come to the conclusion that raising chickens isn’t a lot different than raising children for the following reasons:

1. Chickens don’t follow rules. This picture of them in a roped-off area where I’m trying to grow grass is a prime example. They have acres of land to roam and forage, and where do they show up? Right at my back door. (Which brings me to point #2)

2. Chickens like to be near me, but not too close.

3. Chickens (just like my grandchildren) love my blueberries. They especially love it when I pick them for them.

4. Chickens are mean to each other and form little cliques. They pick on the smaller, younger ones.

5. Chickens run to me when I have a treat for them, then pretend they don’t know me when the treat is gone.

6. My teenage chickens are surely laying eggs somewhere, but they like keeping secrets from me.

7. When I let them out of their coop in the morning it’s a mad dash to see who’s first.

8. Chickens don’t go to bed until they’re good and ready. I think they’re laughing at me as I try to round them up and get them in their coop for their own safety! Little devils.

9. When they finally are on their roosts and tucked in for the night they snuggle together and make sweet chirping music, and I forget about their naughtiness and love them a little bit more.

God's children are a lot like chickens.  We don't follow the rules; in fact, we strive to break them, all the time hoping God is close by, but not too close.  We have our comfort zone of being just a little separated from Him.  We love our blessings (blueberries) but quickly forget about them when life doesn't dole them out anymore (or enough). 

How many of us don't thank God for specific blessings?  It's easy to send a general, "thank you God for my blessings", but when was the last time you thanked Him for every juicy blueberry that was plucked off the bush for you? 

How many of us stay friends with just a small number of people who, guess what?  Are just like us.  When was the last time you tsked your tongue at a homeless person or someone who was having a mental breakdown?  Cliques and bullying are commonplace, but not recognized as such by most of us. 

Who tries to hide things from God?  Most of us should be raising our hands.  Who wants to be first?  It's not just the eldest child who thinks they should have first dibs on blessings.  Who rebels when God wants us to do something (or stop doing something) for our own well-being or safety?  Most of us think we're in control, but guess what?  We're not. 

Last, but not least, who of you ever stops to contemplate God's total love and joy that He has for you?  He loves you, in spite of your weaknesses. He finds great joy in basking in who you are in Him.  "How great is the love the Father has LAVISHED on us, that we should be called children of God. (I John 3:1). 

Aleta is my little sister and one of my favorite adventure buddies. She just retired from the Administrative Assistant position at her local elementary school in Georgia, Vermont. Since retirement, she has planted new flower and vegetable gardens, started raising chickens, helped her grandkids with online school, and built a flagstone walkway to her pool. She takes a five-mile walk every day in addition to hiking, paddleboarding, and kayaking.