A Story About Chickens
 

A Story About Chickens Author Unknown

Observation

Many good lessons can be learned from simple things. Here's one from chickens.

Randy was spending the summer on the farm with his Grandfather. One day, he and his Grandfather went into the chicken coop, and Randy scattered a handful of grain over the floor. The chickens scrambled madly for it, but one chicken was having trouble. Every time it tried to eat, it was pecked by the others.

Randy saw a red spot on the chicken's neck. "Look, Grandpa!" he exclaimed, "That chicken is hurt!"

Just then a big rooster jabbed the sore on the neck of the chicken, making it even larger. Grandpa picked up the chicken and carried the squawking bird out of the pen. "Come on, old girl. We'll put you in a separate place until your neck heals," he said.

Randy watched as Grandpa rubbed medicine into the sore. "Why do the other chickens peck this one?" he asked. "Well, Randy, I can't tell you exactly why," answered Grandpa, "but this is the way chickens act. They always pick on those who are different from the rest, and on those who are hurt."

"That seems stupid," said Randy. "Right you are, Randy," said Grandpa, "but do you know that people often do the same thing?" "They do?" asked Randy, surprised, "How?"

"When others have skin that is a different color, or perhaps their eyes or noses look a little different, some people make fun of them," explained Grandpa.

Randy immediately thought of a boy named Darrin. Some of the other boys teased Darrin about his bright, red-orange hair. Randy was glad now that he had not joined in the teasing--but felt bad that he had not tried to stop it either. "It's too bad when people act like chickens," continued Grandpa.

Randy looked up at his Grandfather with admiration. "Grandpa," he said, "what the chickens were doing to this one was cruel. I'm proud of you for helping her!"

How Does This Apply to Our Lives?

Randy learned that some people act like chickens. If a person looks differently from themselves, they pick on that person. The "picking" may take different forms, but it still hurts--and is wrong. Randy also learned that something positive can be done as his Grandfather intervened to stop the abuse from continuing.

Don't act like those chickens. Genesis 1:26-27 says God created humans in his own "image" and "likeness." So respect people no matter how they look. Refuse to show favoritism or prejudice because of someone's physical characteristics. And to help stop wrongful actions from continuing, do what you can to promote positive attitudes between different racial groups. That's good citizenship, and good theology.

"Honor one another above yourselves."
Romans 12:10