A Mother Hen (March 13, 2022)

Mosaic art at Dominus Flevit church. Photo by Anton 17 on Wikipedia.

READ: Jesus was teaching about God’s ways of love all around Judea as he made his way to Jerusalem. News about Jesus traveled far, it even got to King Herod in his palace. Some friends of Jesus warned him to stay away from Jerusalem, because the king was there and wanted to kill Jesus.
Jesus listened to their warnings, and then told them, “Herod may be like a fox, sneaky and looking to cause trouble. But like God, I am like a mother hen who tries to gather up all her baby chicks and protect them under her wings. I’ll keep on loving people, whether they come to me seeking safety or if they run away. I’m going to Jerusalem.” (Luke 13:31-35)    
WONDER: I wonder how a baby chick feels when it is under its mother’s wings?
I wonder why a chick might run away from its mother?
I wonder what it feels like to be close to God?
I wonder when you feel safe? I wonder if there is someone who makes you feel safe?
I wonder how Jesus’s friends felt when Jesus said he was still going to Jerusalem?

SAY: In this story Jesus assures his disciples that God’s love is always there for us, wherever we are.
PRAY: Let’s pray. Dear God, thank you for always caring for us just like a mother hen keeps her chicks safe. Help us feel your love, whether we are at home under your protective wing or if we’ve wandered off on our own. Amen.
EXTEND

• Affirmation prompt: I am safe with God. Using your favorite art materials create a mother hen.  Add her baby chicks. Are they under her wings or farther away? (Affirmation prompt from A Sanctified Art.)
• Heifer International is a non profit organization working to end hunger and poverty by supporting local farmers and their communities around the world. Learn more about their work as heifer.org. Consider giving a flock of chicks to help a family provide food and earn income.
• Read The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd. Where does the bunny try to hide? I wonder where your favorite hiding places are? I wonder if God can find you there?