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Showing posts with label chickens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chickens. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

I Will Watch Over Them

It is not enough to receive my covenant, but you must also abide it. And all who abide it, whether on this land or any other land, will be mine, and I will watch over them and protect them in the day of harvest, and gather them in as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. I will number you among the remnant of Jacob, no longer outcasts, and you will inherit the promises of Israel. You shall be my people and I will be your God, and the sword will not devour you. And unto those who will receive will more be given, until they know the mysteries of God in full. T&C 157:48 [emphasis added]






The Joy of Raising Chickens

I never tire of gathering the chickens each evening. I’m always delighted to see scattered chickens run full speed to greet me. I walk them into the coop and shut the door behind us. I feed them food scraps and grain. Then I gather their eggs. As I leave, I latch the door behind me, leaving them safe inside while nocturnal predators prowl outside. 




Monday, June 4, 2012

Spring Flowers and Birds

We love the warmth of springtime and new life emerging everywhere. Spring is such a beautiful time of year.  It is so refreshing to see the brown plants turn green. We enjoy nature, being outside, and working in the yard.  Each year, we plant more flowers, bushes, and trees. It’s easy to take starts from old plants and make new plants.






We just planted over 100 lilacs. The children worked hard and did a fabulous job digging up starts and transplanting them. Dad and the older ones dug the holes while the younger children carefully planted the tender little plants. Watering them with a hose was the favorite job, so the children took turns. In a few years, the lilacs will fill in and completely take over this part of the hillside.


 
Dad really enjoys gardening and working with plants. Unbeknownst to the rest of the family, Dad has been nurturing a little tree that voluntarily came up in the rose bushes. He was planning to transplant it. Mom didn’t know about Dad’s plans and saw it as a weed.  Mom thought she was being helpful and had the tree pulled.  Dad was saddened to find his little tree lying on the grass in the hot sun. Luckily, he found it soon after it had been pulled out. He quickly planted it in a new safe spot and watered it well. He hopes his little tree will make it.

 
With so much shrubbery, vegetation, and foliage around, birds love the area. There are bird’s nests everywhere. We found nests in trees and bushes, under the eves, and on rain gutters. Young birds were chirping while mother birds searched out and found fresh worms to feed their young. It’s fascinating to watch. We welcome all of the birds with their singing, dancing, and delightful activity.




During the day, the chickens like to walk around the yard scratching and pecking.  Something started killing the chickens one by one, so we kept them in the chicken coop where they would be safe. But they didn’t want to be in the coop. They like the yard.


Nothing could get into the coop, but if the chickens pushed against the fence, they could slip under it. One by one the chickens found their way out of the coop and couldn’t get back in. In the morning, we found feathers and the scattered remains of chickens. Some predator apparently found a tasty dinner each night. I was disappointed and whispered to myself, “Oh, if you chickens would have just stayed in the safe coop that I offered you, but you would not.”

Jesus said something along these lines, “O, ye nations of the earth, how often would I have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not!” D&C 43:24, 3 Nephi 10:4-6 


We bought some new little baby chicks. They are safe and sound in the chicken coop. They are cute little chicks. Everyone wants to see them, feed them, and play with them. They are growing, doing well, and getting big. We are excited to have fresh eggs again.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

How Oft Have I Gathered You

A newborn has three major needs: nourishment, protection, and love. As we get older, we think we’ve grown up and matured when we can stand on our own and be independent. God asks us to humble ourselves and become like little children again Matt 18:4. He wants us to lean on him, come to him, and receive of his strength and sustenance. Just as a baby finds nourishment, protection, and love in the arms of her mother, our needs are fulfilled in the arms of our Maker.

Need for Nourishment

“How oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you.” 3 Nephi 10:4

Our three-year-old daughter, Marianne, loves animals. Each morning she looks forward to going outside to feed the chickens. She grabs the old, white bucket we use to collect food scraps and shouts, “Let’s go and feed the chickens.” She opens the door and runs outside calling for them to come and eat their breakfast.

Believe it or not, chickens are quite smart about food and know what to look for. They will follow almost anyone carrying the white bucket, and they will come to a few who merely call for them. But when my familiar voice is heard, “Here chicky, chicky; here chicky,” they all come running full speed. The chickens really do know my voice and trust in it for food. When I call, they leave whatever else is holding their attention and come to me. It’s fun to watch.

There’s physical food and food for the soul. I’m in need of daily nourishment that lifts, sustains, and fills my being with light. One of the fruits manifested in the church of Christ is that the people are "nourished by the good word of God" Moroni 6:4.

As our family visits different churches, I’m learning to distinguish between my false traditions and the nourishing word of God. I have a different vantage point because I’m not bound by the traditions of these different religions. There are times when I feel God confirming and teaching the truth. Some congregations are full of a lot of Spirit, and I like to meet with them often. Some churches have very little spirit.

When the truth is being taught, I feel nourished. When the philosophies and traditions of men are promoted, my heart just feels empty and hollow. “And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers.” D&C 93:39

Most church people seem to think they are the ones following Christ. They seem sincere in their devotion and offer up great sacrifices. It’s been enlightening for me to see others act out their false beliefs. It helps me to see my own false traditions. Throughout my life I’ve held on to many practices just because that’s the way it’s always been. However, the light of the Spirit at church hasn’t always nourished me at church.

Christ’s church nourishes. If that’s not happening, it’s a good chance the religious observances are only tradition. “And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness" D&C 50:21-25.

Need for Protection and Love

Last summer we had a mother hen that loved to sit on her eggs. We would often see her contently sitting on her nest personally caring for her unhatched chicks. We decided to stop gathering and taking her eggs each day and allowed her to do her motherly job. She faithfully cared for the eggs, kept them warm, and time passed.

Three weeks later she had six fluffy little chicks following her everywhere. She watched, protected, and cared for them daily. At night, she found a safe place, spread her wings, invited the chicks to come, and gathered them under her protective wings. They knew her call and came to her. They were vulnerable, defenseless, and constantly exposed to varying degrees of danger, but found warmth, safety, love, and comfort under the wings of their mother.

One day a cat happened by and tried to get the chicks. When the cat saw the defenseless chicks, he had full confidence in obtaining a delicious lunch. The cat was in for a surprise because he had under estimated the hen. He discovered that you just don’t mess around with the chicks of a mother hen. I believe she would have literally given her life to save her chicks from danger John 15:13-14.

It was neat to watch the chicks respond to their mother. When she called them, they came running. They weren’t aware of the danger, but the mother hen was. They were contently pecking the ground until they heard their mother’s clucking. Under the safety of her wings, they watched and learned. She was willing to fight their battle against the cat. They allowed her to stand between them and danger. God desires to do the same for us, yet in our independence, we often refuse to be gathered. “O, ye nations of the earth, how often would I have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not!” D&C 43:24