Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Mama's Wings
* Scripture: Jesus said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." Mt. 23:37, NKJV

I honestly don't know what possessed her to do what she did. I know for a fact she wasn't taking scripture into account. Actually, I was surprised that anything good came out of her efforts. But there they were - seven baby chicks hatched out on the 3rd of March - well out of the usual season!
There is indeed a time and a season for everything, and that white hen was certainly rushing things a wee bit. Perhaps the un-seasonably warm temperatures during the month of January threw her biological clock off schedule. Never-the-less, she stuck with her task; she stayed the course.
It takes three weeks for eggs to hatch once the hen starts setting (incubating.) She had fifteen eggs under her - I think some of the other hens contributed - but that still means she started laying eggs for her clutch back in January. Eggs can, and do, freeze, and the temperatures during that time period were in the teens and twenties many times. That accounts for the many that didn't hatch.
Spring is a much more appropriate time to start a chicken family. Baby chicks have to be kept warm. Mother hens certainly make every effort to do that, but in the dead of winter? The chicks can't stay under mamma all of the time. They need to come out for both nourishment and water, and water is hard to come by when the prevailing temperatures turn such resources icy solid.
I will say this much for her; that hen was persistent both in season and out; she stayed on those eggs. Now, she covers her brood with her wings, both Biblical expressions. (See 2 Timothy 4:2; Luke 13:34)
I suppose that there might be hens that are poor mothers, but most of our bantams are fiercely protective of their little ones. Move close, and she goes on full alert. Move closer and you will learn that the beak is quite useful for things other than eating!
Would that all 'people' parents were so dedicated. Most are, I know, but doesn't it break your heart when you read the headlines or watch the news about neglect, abuse and violence concerning children?
Then, consider what would happen if the chicks didn't WANT to gather under mama's wings during this cold, frigid weather. What a disappointment for the hen.
Even today, Jesus' lament holds true; "How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."
What a disappointment!
March 12. 2006