By: Jason Tsaddiq
The flurry of colors and sizes was cackling, scurrying, and living life large. Some were quiet; some were not. Some were calmly watching the humans; some were darting around and away. The big white Great Pyrenees guardian was watching, peaceful for he had seen his master come to the field with these strangers.
We had come to add an elective to our homeschool curriculum: raising chickens. What homeschooled teen wouldn’t want to learn about chickens? For a grade, no less! What teen wouldn’t want to sell the eggs and become rich like Bill Gates, right?
Mine didn’t.
However, he listened carefully as the chicken farmer showed us his fancy incubator, his day-old baby goat, the brooder boxes, the types of feed, and sundry other animal care-taking equipment.
We made the decision final: we would become chicken parents. The farmer allowed us to choose which ones we wanted from the hundreds roaming. Darling spouse chose some and then I was given the chance to choose: three black and white ones.
“The salt and pepper ones,” I said. (Was I thinking of dinner?!)
As the farmer gathered up the chosen ones into a box, I watched. How was he going to get thirty non-stop animals into a box? His first plan of attack: stand still, then pounce on the unsuspecting fowl closest by. The farmer’s plan worked, for he was fit and agile.
His second plan of attack: throw a scoop of feed back into the fenced area. What animal doesn’t like to eat? So as they scurried to grab a morsel, he shut the gate behind them, trapping them. That plan worked. Soon we were on our way home, elated, nervous.
Through the years of being a chicken mom, I’ve noticed many Biblical truths about chickens. That day, the day they came home with us, I learned two techniques that Satan uses on God’s children every single day.
Sometimes, he just has to stand still and wait for us to nonchalantly walk by and then he pounces. For example, we’re driving down the street and lo! And behold! That billboard was not there yesterday, was it? That co-worker in the next office cubicle surely was just being friendly and personable to me when he said that questionable remark, wasn’t he? And exactly how many times was God’s name (or a perversion of it) taken in vain in that “everybody watches it” tv show or movie? We have no idea for we weren’t on our guard.
Or does he pounce on us while we’re just doing what we’re supposed to be doing – washing dishes, driving to work, meeting clients, flipping burgers? Wow! Where did that thought come from? Did it come from the music that promotes a wedge between spouses? Did it come from the article I read from some unsaved psychologist?
Then he has his other technique: throw a little feed into the fenced area, give a tiny enticement, a little at a time until it’s too late to escape since we weren’t listening for the way of escape. Adulterous affairs do not happen overnight – they happen one little enticement at a time: the simple compliment, the little gift, the short text, and soon the gate is closed tightly.
Did he throw a little feed when the cashier gave us back too much change and we didn’t notice it til we got home? Instead of returning to the store immediately, we justified keeping the money – “Lord, I’ll put it in the offering plate.” Or “Lord, thanks for supplying my needs.”
Did he throw a little feed into the family? The wife’s rebellion against her husband doesn’t happen overnight – it happens as she makes one little choice to watch a movie with a divorce plot line, and then a choice to listen to a pop song about “You did me wrong so I’m gonna do you wrong,” and then a choice to notice that nicely dressed man at work or church and then a choice to compare and then the gate is shut.
Where have I let my guard down? Where am I being enticed, little by little to leave His presence? Is the gate shut tightly yet? How do I open the gate again?