When deciding to participate in the wonderful world of chicken raising, we discussed obtaining a rooster. Roosters serve two main purposes: to continue the family line and to protect.
Several roosters have found their home with us. One was so intent in “continuing the family line” that the hens were stressed. (Hens’ being stressed is a topic for another day.) We had to do something – the hens were not laying; they spent their days running instead of scratching for bugs. He was relentless! Eventually, we loosely tied a small twine rope to one of his legs with the other end tied around a tree. He had shade, feed, water, grass, and the company of the other birds, and the hens had peace and calm. Everyone was happy except him. He spotted a hen whom he thought he could reach and he ran full tilt toward her. She squawked as she ran from him. He squawked as the length of the rope grew taut, stopping his romantic progress. Day after day, this action took place. We didn’t know to laugh at his foolishness or be encouraged at his optimism.
Another rooter thought he was in charge of the whole property. His bossy protection included drawing blood from the teen boy and then from the dad and then from the mom. That day was his last day alive.
The most recent rooster was a beautiful jewel: the greens, the blues, the slight oranges and red all blended to a masterpiece of art. Gorgeous! And he provided for the flock. We had no other rooster with this trait: when he found food, he made a certain noise and the hens all came running; he stepped back and the girls enjoyed his discovered bounty. He wouldn’t eat the food until all the hens had eaten their fill and had walked away. Even when the humans brought feed, he called the girls and then stepped back.
Once while working in the garden, I heard a very low growl. Knowing we have some untamed animals in the surrounding woods, my alertness peaked immediately. I stood slowly. I stood still. I stared. At the woods. I slowly turned my head to scope out the house and the driveway. Nothing. Then I saw it: all the hens were gathered around the rooster. As I pondered, I heard the low growl again….coming from the rooster.
I thought to myself, “Goodness! You’ve been in the heat too long. Get inside. Roosters do not growl!”
Over the next several months, several times I heard the low growl, observed the hens scurry to the rooster’s side; then, and only then, I perceived the hawk circling overhead or the neighbor dog wandering through the yard or the curiously hungry raccoon drooling at the tree line.
Am I a protector over those whom God has given me? Do I ensure protection in providing a healthy body – for myself and for my family or do I gorge myself and feed my family a constant diet of unhealthy junk food or do I do due diligence in studying nutrition, in learning to cook properly, and in keeping germs at bay? Do I ensure my wife has a sense of financial protection because I know how to tithe, to give to missions, to give to the needy, and to save? Do I ensure my husband a sense of protection when he gives me access to his hard-earned money that I will be honest and frugal? Do I ensure protection from worldly influences or do I allow my teens to soak up the latest and greatest video and computer game? Do I invite their friends to my home so I can offer protection from peer pressure? Do I ensure protection from the temptation for laziness by teaching and expecting my children to perform age-appropriate chores? Do I ensure that my friends and acquaintances have a stable prayer warrior who is not afraid to come boldly before His throne and ask for anything in His will?
I have a Protector; am I a protector for those around me?
