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

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

Scripture: Paul wrote, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord” ... “Fathers, do not exasperate your children.“(read Ephesians 6:1-4)
He honked, so I stopped! I could tell he was really irritated with me. I knew I didn’t have a “Honk If You Love . . .” sign, so what else could it be? Stopping wasn’t enough; he kept right on honking. Looked me right in the eye, too! Didn’t move, either, until his ‘wife’ got across the road. Or do you just call it a “mate” in the goose world. Whatever - that gander stood his ground until she - his mate- got back across the road, her webbed feet flap-flap-flapping as she crossed the asphalt. Only after she was safely back on her nest, feathers ruffled out to cover everything, did he leave his post in the front of my car, and let me proceed.
I have witnessed such protective behavior often in the animal world. Usually the mother, but sometimes, as in this case, the father. There is something, be it hormone or innate behavior, that kicks in to bring out the full parenting instinct to nourish and protect little ones. I see it most often in the livestock I work with on a daily basis. The sheep (or goat) that formerly would head for the gate if you looked at it crossways will usually stand and let you check that the udder has milk - after giving birth. They clean and nuzzle the newborn, and develop an amazing bond; they know out of dozens of young bounding around just which little one belongs to them. They will stomp their feet, and charge toward intruders, especially the herd and guard dogs. And woe betide the lamb that tries to cozy up to the wrong mamma! She will send her/him packing: “Go find your own mamma!”
I learned early-on not to mess with a sow with little pigs. Talk about protective! Never crossed a bear (also called sows) but I hear they are more outspoken than pigs. I have been flopped, but good, by geese, hens (both chicken and peafowl), and even Blue Jays. I can only assume that such traits run true throughout much of the animal kingdom.
Oh, yes, you do run into cases where the new mamma drops the kids to run off after temptations of the non maternal world. Had a sheep do that last Thursday. But not often.
People - that’s unfortunately another story. Babies in dumpsters. children left in locked cars and mothers in bars. Abuse; molestation's; neglect. Saddening, but true.
We know from the Bible that Jesus placed a high value on children. Familial relationships are important to God. Children, honor you parents; parents, honor your children!
April 22, 2001