Of Hens and Humans

 

I saw a lot of human characteristics and actions while I sat there on the stoop at my Mama's Ruby's house.  You can learn a lot watching the happenings in a barnyard.  I know I did watching the many adventures of my grandparent's roosters and chickens. 

This brought to me, after all of these years, in a featherly way what is common and wrong in the lives of people.  We are a lot like those birds.

I have a beautiful group of chickens and roosters. They are all different varieties and colors.  Each one has its own style and personality. 

I named one of those beautiful hens, Ellie Mae.  She was a victim of the other chickens’ unfair treatment.  She was a beautiful hen.  I would sit and watch her walk around the grass.  I was sitting on the porch cracking some pecans one day.  We were going to make some pies.  

I noticed that sweet Ellie Mae had some feathers missing.  Later that day, I saw what had happened; several of the other hens were coming up and pecking her for no reason.  I thought well, that was wasn’t very polite. 

They didn’t have to treat her that way.  I began to take more notice, and as time went on, some things that happened were just very unkind.  What on earth?? Bullying among the hens?  I then begin to notice that lil Ellie Mae began to stay in the hen house and not come outside much.  She felt as thought she was being singled out.    

I felt for her, and I would go over and feed her all by herself just so I could make sure that she was getting to eat.  It broke my heart to see her getting treated this way.  To get away from the bullies, she was cower down and return to the nest.  Sometimes, they seemed to treat her better, but then they would start again.  It was a vicious cycle. 

Isaiah 41:11-13

¹¹ Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

¹² Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

¹³ For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

One day I could not stand it anymore.  I got Ellie Mae and put her outside the house and the pen.  She was going to free from this and she was going to do what she wanted when she wanted. 

Boy was I wrong..Instead of walking around the large property and eating whatever she wanted, I found her staying very close to her past prison.  She was staying within a feet of the other chickens…the very ones who were so mean to her.  She stayed as close as she could to those that did her harm.

Many people allow themselves to be in this situation.  A sin or mistake has ruined or their life, yet that one will not stop the activity or their involvement with it.  They will get just close enough to where they have suffered and they keep coming back to it. 

Alcoholics often have their lives destroyed by alcohol.  Not only has the addiction bound them to the bottle, but their body is slowly weakened by the drink. 

An adulterer gets caught in his sin.  He loses his marriage and family, and things for which he worked hard.  Yet, he allows his eyes and mind to wander and again and continues to be unfaithful in future relationships. 

A woman gets sexually involved with a man and finds she is pregnant.  He leaves her, and she is left to raise the child by herself; however, it is not long until again she is sexually involved with another man and not married. 

So often we make mistakes, but we continue to do what has hurt us in the past.  As humans, we are no different than the hen-pecked chicken that could not walk away from those who were hurting her.    

Prov. 26:11  “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.”

If you have relief from past mistakes or sins, stay away from them, as they kept you imprisoned.  Sometimes you need to walk away from your old life or your friends who encouraged your behavior.

 

Something needs to change, or it will not be long until one is back in the same condition.

No one will be unscathed from sin’s grasp.  Put yourself far away from its hold.  Flee it before it is too late.

II Corinthians 6:14-17

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial [a personification of all that is bad]? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel [have the same thinking as an unsaved person]?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God [a believer] with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” 

 

If someone is warning you about a particular person and they are concerned about the company you are keeping..just maybe you should heed their warning..

Take a second look..Maybe you are missing something important that they see and you don't.  Sometimes you are too close to see what is really there.  

Life is not as it may seem.  God may be sending someone to warn you for good reason. 

FOLLOW HIS WORD...not man's.  PRAY ABOUT YOUR CHOICES.

God Bless,

Lisa G.