One of the most expressive word pictures Christ gave is in Matthew 23:37-38: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem , the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate..."

This displays Christ's deeply emotional care and love for His human creation. They were not willing, but hopefully we are. Can we learn from this analogy to our feathered friends?

When does a hen gather her chicks? Observing our frolicsome flock of 40, the mother hens gather their chicks for three main reasons:

1. Protection from danger.

If a hawk threatens, the hen will run for cover, fluff up her feathers and cluck insistently for all the chicks to take refuge under her.

"For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by" (Psalm 57:1; see also Psalm 91:4 and 17:8-9).

Remember to take refuge there in the future when Satan agitates the world into heartless chaos.

2. Food.

A young chick doesn't automatically recognize what is and isn't food. The mother hen teaches them what is good to eat. She will call them with excited, rapid, high-pitched chirps to gather them to eat whatever good things she has found. The chicks who are "not willing" to come don't get fed.

God wants to fill us with the bread of life: "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst" (John 6:35).

The hen teaches the chicks that seeds are better than fire ants. We too need to learn to not eat just anything, but to seek the pure milk of the Word daily and on the Sabbaths, and to shun false teachers.

3. Rest and comfort.

After a busy morning of digging up the yard, feeding and dust bathing, the little chicks get all worn out, and they willingly gather under mama's wings for a nap to "recharge their batteries." It's not long before they are rejuvenated and back at their activities again, full force, until dusk.

We, too, could use a midday "pick-me-up." "Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17).

At night they willingly gather under her without coaxing. Christ also gathers us to Him when we are weary with dealing with the cares of this life: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest... I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29).

This analogy of a mother hen gathering her chicks is just one more way God expresses His love and care for us in a way we can understand.