New littles are a huge joy at our house.
The entire process is makes me giddy- the anticipation while heading to the local feed store, choosing which ones out of the big bins to bring home..the impulse adding just a few more to the box. After claiming the new littles as ours, we head home- eager to get them settled into their already-prepared crate.
We love hearing their cheepcheep from any room in the house, and we especially love the occasional “wild bird noises” they make.
Luke loves to watch them and is right there with me every time I change their bedding. Logan doesn’t say much past an initial “hello” and sniff.
They bring so much joy. I check on them every time I walk down the hallway, past their spot. I cuddle them in bed, carry them around the house, and literally sing with joy over them.
And then, sometimes, they die.
They either are discovered as already gone, or despite my best efforts, my genuine care for them leaves the most loving option as ending their pain. You see, they are so delicate.
Not everyone who makes it home actually makes it to the flock. Our home often feels like a continually revolving door of new life and beauty coming in. And a majority of it does come to stay, but a fair amount of beauty passes back into the earth before its time.
The circle of life is depicted much prettier in the Lion King than it actually plays out in real life. And yet, there is something grounding about our little heartaches. Of course some of the new life and beauty that we welcome home dies, everything dies. It’s the ultimate truth, the unavoidable reality of every breathing heartbeat.
And when these littles pass away, its my privilege to give them a little kiss, thank them out loud for the beautiful addition they brought to our home..because, they did.
We have lost chickens after a week, to several years..and each of those lives are valuable, and I am grateful for them all.
We love deeply while we can- not even a single day is promised. So we are present, soak up the joy, and acknowledge the pain of loss.
We have open hands- to receive and let go. And even when grief comes our way, we have open hearts- to believe in the possibility of future joy.
It is indeed the circle of life, and we are so blessed to live it in such a tangible way.
BryanHomestead 