The Chicken Coop

There is a little thing that thrills me.
I have no idea why.
It happened the other morning.
I actually smiled from ear to ear at the sheer joy of it all.

I opened a new jar of peanut butter.
There it was.
No knife had disturbed the peanut-ty goodness.
No one had taken any peanut butter before me.

It is not a selfish thing.
I will gladly give up first dibs on the peanut butter.
But when my knife goes into the peanut butter first, it is thrilling.
To stick my knife into the little swirl of the peanut butter is so enjoyable.

I used to like to eat the curly-Q on the Dilly Bar from Dairy Queen when I was a little girl.
That was the thing I bit into first.
The curly-Q just begged to be eaten.
The swirl of the peanut butter just begs to be invaded by my knife.

A friend sent me a text, with a wonderful picture she knew I would love.
Children across the street from her are raising chickens.
Perhaps they got the idea because of quarantine boredom.
Perhaps the quarantine gave them the freedom to pursue something that thrilled them.

Some men in the neighborhood got together to help the children.
The men built a chicken coop, that they affectionately called the “condo.”
The condo included a run for the chickens.
It was chicken coop building at its finest.

Now, the children decided to plant a vegetable garden.
They are researching what they can plant.
They are learning what they might be able to plant for their chickens to eat.
They are learning without being in a classroom.

If this was normal life, before the pandemic, these children would not be home.
They and their parents would be running back and forth to sport practices and games.
Their parents would be taking them to dance lessons, acting lessons, and robotics.
The children would be spending little time at home.

The busyness is not just about these children; it is the life of most children.
Children’s schedules are packed full on any given day.
There is little time to breathe.
Eating leisurely together at the family table is a rare treat.

The children are having so much fun.
They were interested in something.
They pursued their interest with the help of adults who cared.
The adults have time, too.

Another friend had commented on something I had written.
I had not seen her comment until after I saw the picture of the chicken coop.
This friend was struggling because important plans had to be canceled.
Because of the virus, she and her husband could not travel to see their grandchildren.

They are retired now, having raised children who now have children of their own.
They frequently travel on mission trips.
They are actively involved in church ministry.
So much has changed since the virus infiltrated our world.

Everything is different. The one good thing we see, as we take walks, is the number of families that are walking or biking on trails together. We went kayaking at the state park. It was packed with families. Picnic tables full of laughter and families enjoying the outdoors and not looking at electronic devices. It was heartwarming.

I read her words and smiled.
Families together.
Outdoors.
No electronic devices.

Chicken coops.
Vegetable gardens.
Reading and researching.
Parents and children working alongside each other.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Education will look very different on the other side of this pandemic.
It will have to change.
If the status quo remains in place, we have not learned a thing.
If we just keep doing the same thing because it has always been done, we are foolish.

The children are raising chickens because they have time.
Isolation was forced upon them because of the virus.
However, the children are thriving.
They have time to explore things they would never had time to even think about before.

They are reaching for books to learn on their own.
They are cooperating with adults who are standing shoulder to shoulder with them.
They are working with their hands.
They are seeing the fruit of their labor.

Their idea came to fruition after much thought and planning.
Their days are flying by, because they are working towards a common goal.
Parents and children have a shared purpose.
Togetherness has never been sweeter.

2 responses to “The Chicken Coop”

1. Absolutely loved this!! Families slowing down is the silver lining in this cloud.

   Reply

   • I couldn’t agree more, Marylou.
     That is something I hope will stay the same on the other side of this virus.
     I am so delighted that you were blessed.
     Gina

     Reply