Don't Kick the Leg that Feeds You

My family and I have backyard chickens.  With our homestead settled on 18 acres, they have plenty of room to free range. 

We have had roosters over the years.  Usually, they start off pleasant, and sometimes they stay that way.  Yet, at other times, they become mean for seemingly no good reason.  We don't chase them or hurt them, and they have a good life.  So why do they all of a sudden start attacking us?

I have many young nieces and nephews who visit my property, as well as other guests at times with small children.  When the roosters start attacking the young ones, we usually accelerate their path to chicken heaven.

We often feed our chickens leftovers from the refrigerator when we know we won't be eating them ourselves.  They also love to munch on apple cores, strawberry tops, and other parts of fruit we don't want to eat.  Not long ago, I went to the yard with several treats from our refrigerator, and the chickens gobbled it up.  Yet, when I turned to go back to the house, the rooster kicked me.  What was the meaning of that?  I had just politely given him and his ladies a bunch of good food from our house.  Why would he come after me?  That rooster has since been replaced by two others gifted to us by friends who ended up with more than they needed.  

I recognize that these "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" moments are not unique to roosters.  How often do we go after those who love us, often over petty disagreements that mean nothing in the whole scheme of life?  We also sometimes lash out at God as though he is distant or uncaring.  Our pride makes us think we understand all and deserve much, when our narrow view of the world is limited by our lived experience.  We should not let our assumptions direct us to a path of anger and hate. 

So why did the rooster kick me?  I don't have a good answer for this.  But, in general, it is unwise to go after those who love you, care for you, and take care of your needs.  Use Philippians 4:8 to widen your perspective.  What is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy about the person or situation you are facing?  Meditation over this will help the Holy Spirit speak to you in that "still small voice," enabling you to see another perspective that is good for your overall growth.