Do You Have Rooster Faith?

Yesterday, during the baby shower, I opened the front door to find my handsome rooster, Fighting Irish, looking bewildered and very wet.  I ignored him and did some more things in preparation for the shower.  After everyone had arrived I happened to look out the window of the front door and he had not moved.  I walked over and picked him up.  He looked lost.  He knew I would eventually tend to him if he waited long enough.  He knew I would because my behavior toward the chickens is consistent.  I feed them, I collect their eggs, I pet them and check to make sure they are mite free.  I truly care for each one of them.

Today Thadd comes inside and says, "The rooster Brett likes is a lone rooster."  That told me he needed attention again.  He had not come to the door, but had found a spot where he could monitor my movement in order to be tended to once more.  I walked over and picked him up.  His body was not as tense as usual.  Most of my chickens do not enjoy being handled very much, but will allow a random touch every now and again.  He does not like to be touched unless he is not feeling well.  I begin to inspect him and find a few boils or small tumors.  Last week he had these same tumors around his vent(butt).  Last week I drained them and treated them with Neosporin.  The new boils were located around his neck.  Earlier I watched him stumble a bit and shake his head.  I googled "chicken shaking head" and it suggested ear mites.  After inspecting his neck and finding some boils that I drained, I checked his ears.  He had a small boil that was obstructing his hearing and any air coming in and out of his ear.  I hoped any draining I would do would not cause him permanent damage and so I drained this boil, too.  After about an hour or so he seemed to be shaking his head less and rejoined the group.

This small incident reminds me of a story.  It is a short story, but one that looks at the amazing strength of faith.  My rooster only knows my behavior and doesn't live by faith, but we should.

Luke 8:40-56

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman

⁴⁰ Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. ⁴¹ Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house ⁴² because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. ⁴³ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,^[a] but no one could heal her. ⁴⁴ She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

⁴⁵ “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

⁴⁷ Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.⁴⁸ Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

⁴⁹ While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

⁵⁰ Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

⁵¹ When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. ⁵² Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her.“Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”

⁵³ They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. ⁵⁴ But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” ⁵⁵ Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.⁵⁶ Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

I am thankful to see the heart of Jesus in the acts of my rooster!!(Day 69).  Goodnight Friends.