Fuzzy Life

…I came so that you might have life and have it abundantly.  John 10:10

How many times have you scratched your head and wondered what you could do to be a bigger promoter of the culture of life?  It seems all too often that the value of human life is being diminished right before our very eyes and it can feel defeating…but, like He often does, God takes over and demonstrates His truths in a profound, simple and beautiful way!  

He sweetly whispered this morning…you demonstrate the culture of life when you allow people to witness it and when you celebrate it. That’s just what happened in sixth grade last week!  For 24 days 20 middle lovelies carefully turned and tended pheasant eggs inside the incubator three times a day.  Every day they checked the chart to see what the babies were developing and we marveled at God’s genius growing inside those shells. 

We all got to stand around the incubator and cheer on the little ones who just need one more push to break free.  We watched them make their grand entrance into life.  They are a gigantic mix of emotion; excitement, happiness, anticipation and pride. It’s been a while since I’ve hatched eggs with a classroom and it was great to rediscover the joy of the whole experience and I got some big lessons and as we all try to respect life I thought I’d share.

Lesson 1…Birthdays are the best day ever so we should sing Happy Birthday no matter what.

Lesson2…Beauty is in the eye of the one who loves hardest.  “Mrs. Wohlfert they looked wet and ugly on the picture chart but when I see him for real he’s beautiful because he’s ours.”

Lesson 3…It’s ok to hug the person next to you when someone is born…even if you’re a boy and the person you just excitedly grabbed is a girl.  New life is worth an awkward or embarrassing moment.

Lesson 4…Struggles are part of the journey. Watching one of the pheasants struggle for more than twelve hours to hatch was tough but that little birds arrival was met with the greatest cheers of them all.

Lesson 5…Life is magnetic!  Those little birds are always being watched and there is laughter constantly around their pen.  We are drawn to the miracle that resulted at the end of those many days; we are mesmerized by God’s genius!

Lesson 6…Supporting and respecting life comes in many beautiful ways.  Especially when two very talented 12 yr old boys stay up later than they should building a fabulous pen so the birds can stay in 6th grade longer. 

Lesson 7…It feels great to love something more than you love yourself and it’s important to put somebody else’s needs  ahead of yours…even if it is just a chick.

We are uniquely created to respect and appreciate life, I think we just forget it sometimes and need a sweet fluffy reminder!  The middle lovelies may not remember learning about multiplying decimals or independent clauses but they will remember how precious life is and how 24 days during the spring can teach so many important lessons.  I suppose God was reminding me today that the best way to promote the culture of life is to dunk somebody right into the middle of it!

A Seed To Plant:  Spend some time this week praying that we become a culture with a greater respect for life. 

Blessings on your day!