Greater Love

You remember our little hen Speckle? You know, the one who would roost on my slop sink and pretend to be a mother hen. She was the bird that survived. The one who waited for a gentle stroke of her feathers. Speckle was special.

I know what you are thinking.

This is a chicken Jenn.

So ask me how this chicken, of all things, made me see Calvary love...

ask me how this chicken made me cry.

We left our little flock to themselves for just one day.

One day.

Our older birds decided to pick on the little ones.

Speckle would have non of that.

When we came home on Sunday I found her huddled in the corner of our chicken coop,

wings outstretched, three little hens resting under her broken body.

Her back was pecked open...bones exposed...not giving up.

She would not save herself for those chicks.

"Peck away, tear into me...but you won't get my babies."

I'm not trying to see too much into this.

I know it's life and death and farms...

whatever.

She woud not give up until those chicks were safe.

My heart broke.

I knew what had to be done.

Aaron gently carried her out and we thanked her before putting her to rest.

I still cry thinking about it.

A chicken sacrificing her life for the sake of three thankless chicks that weren't even her own.

Can you see it?

"Greater Love has no one than this; to lay down one's life for one's friends."

John 15:13