We had lived on our little family farm for only a few months when I had to take one of our hens, Fancy, to the vet, Dr. Bird. {I’m not making that up. I even asked the vet if that was his real name.}

We thought Fancy was sick. She was eating ravenously every time we put feed out, while the other chickens pecked normally. She was losing her feathers and quickly getting thin.

Come to find out she was being picked on.

We didn’t understand all of the signs at the time.

Pecking order is real. Chickens have to establish rank and everyone wants to be over someone else. I’m sure if you asked them, they’d say it was to create order out of chaos. I’ve watched and learned the ways of the chicken, and it still seems down right mean to me.

Dr. Bird showed me where the other chickens had been pecking her on the back of the neck, pulling out her feathers. But on her stomach, she was almost bald where she was pulling out her own feathers. Fancy was down to three pounds, which is tiny for a mature hen, because she had stopped fighting back for her right to be nourished.

At this point, the other chickens didn’t have to convince Fancy she didn’t deserve the same as the others. They didn’t have to intimidate her, chase her away from the flock, or not let her rest on her nest. She believed what they dished out. She had convinced herself how they treated her was true. She had turned on herself.

We took the vet’s advice and rehabilitated her with time away from the flock, extra special nutrition, and peace. I liked to call it the ‘chicken spa.’

Oh my goodness. The analogy for us humans is easy to jump to.

I drove home with a toddler in the backseat and a very sad hen in the crate. I was overwhelmed with heartache for all of us that have felt the same as Fancy.

Have you ever felt beat down by the voices of the enemy, beat up by his tactics, worn out from his attacks, and destitute with the feelings it all might be true?

I sure have.

We are the only species that can choose to help the little guy, the one that struggles, the one who is hard pressed, the one who has lost their peace and in turn hurts themselves.

When we feel like Fancy, we are able to choose our mindset — with the help of the Holy Spirit. Our emotions following soon after. We can listen to the voice of God and the pain from the other voices will eventually grow dim.

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you die to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all of His glory. {Colossians 3:2-4}

The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. {Psalm 28:7}

We have to choose to believe what God says about us: We are God’s incredible work of art, dearly loved. {see Ephesians 2:10; Romans 5:8}

We have a God who says we only need to be still and He will fight for us. {see Exodus 14:4}

I’m happy to report that within a few weeks Fancy had fully recovered and was placed back into the flock, thriving and as if nothing had happened. If chickens need help, love, and a little time to recover, don’t you think we do too in similar situations?

Let’s stop trying to find the weak spot to peck, but help each other instead.

And let’s stop pulling out our own feathers, believing the lies that the enemy spews about us. But let’s replace each lie with the truth of God’s immeasurable love and grace for each of us.

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