I Just Wanna Be a.... Chicken??

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. (Matthew 23:37 NIV)

I had a blast in my preschool Sunday school class yesterday.  The lectionary for this week is right on target for that age group... Good Shepherd Sunday.  We decorated paper sheep with cotton balls and sang, "I Just Wanna Be a Sheep."  The little ones loved making sheep ears on their own heads while they sung, "baa, baa, baa."  They loved it so much in fact, that they made it into more of an "Old McDonald's Farm" song, adding verses of other animals!  I really cracked them up (and encouraged their antics) when I would sigh heavily and roll my eyes and say, "We are NOT God's cows!  We are God's SHEEP!"

But when they got to "I just wanna be a chicken...."  it gave me pause for thought.  There are many times when we certainly are God's chickens.  We are likened to sheep because of our propensity for wandering and getting ourselves into trouble.  We need a shepherd to keep bringing us back.  But we can also be compared to chickens.  At least sheep listen to the shepherd's call.  Chickens are afraid even of the "chickenherder's" voice.

Sheep come when they hear the voice of their shepherd.  Chickens scatter.  Sheep are calmed by that soothing, loving voice.  Chickens become agitated.

We are chickens when we are afraid to follow God's direction because we might have to give up something we love.  We are chickens when we are afraid to obey his promptings, because it might be hard.  We are chickens when we are afraid to do what He asks, because our friends might get mad.  We are chickens.

Jesus still longs to gather us as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.  Let us be willing.... and let us be sheep, not chickens.

Lord Jesus,
We just want to be sheep.  Give us hearts to follow you.  Help us to know your voice so that we hear you when you call.  Help us to not be fearful chickens.  Amen.

Joys:  Having Emma at church; my cute little Sunday school class and how I can learn even from them; great weekend