“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking
goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price,
went and sold all that he had, and bought it” Matthew 13:45-46
All my life I’ve wanted a coop full of chickens, and at age 54, they finally arrived! My love for these wonderful birds began during times I spent at my grandmother’s home – the only place I felt true peace and acceptance as a child. Her love of chickens was passed on to me. I can sit and watch my crowd of noisy, smelly, feathered critters and remember a simpler time – and a woman that was my model of love.
I think my favorite time with them is when I put them to bed at night. I usually end up chasing them around the yard several times before they all make it into the hen house. I latch their little door and go inside to change their water and give them scratch and crumbles. They’re so funny. They squawk and crow and carry on. They fight over nests and positions on the roosting bar. You’ve never seen such a fuss – every night like the first time – what a circus.
Then I collect the eggs that have been carefully placed throughout the day. Eggs as small as a ping-pong ball and others so large it’s hard to close them into the egg cartons. If you clean their pen, or bring in a new tenant, the egg-laying stops for a few days – until they recover from the change. They really are a lot like us.
I sat and studied one of the tiny Banty eggs the other night. It was small, perfectly shaped, evenly milky-tan, and laid at a price. God created them to make a daily sacrifice of themselves – to bring new life, or to sustain an existing one. A pearl of great price, given unselfishly, every day.
God has also given me a pearl – a gift of His Word – to bring new life (new souls born again) or to sustain one that is in need of immediate nourishment (a word of prayer, encouragement, or exhortation). My gift is replenished every day, every minute, but do I always give it – like the chicken – without prodding or “right” circumstances?
Jesus, always give me the desire to unselfishly share Your Word, Your touch, Your smile, Your love, whenever You show me the need – without hesitation. My joy would be to always be a “Pearl of Great Price.”
Linda J. Humes 
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