Today, my mom still tells me and my brother and sister how much she enjoys it when all her chicks are under her wings. When life with its challenges had us in tears, it brought her immense pleasure when we dropped in on her. Then she would do anything to lighten our load.  

A mother, like a hen, wants to protect her chicks from the attacks of life and keep them safe. A mother wants her chicks wrapped up and close to her body so she can know they are OK.  

Unfortunately, there are many mother hens who today have a sad story about her chicks who choose not to learn from her how to stay away from danger and who also do not seek shelter with her. It is heartbreaking for her then to witness the consequences of those chicks’ wrong choices.  

Jesus’s heart overflows with compassion and insight. He compared His desires and feelings towards the stubborn people in Jerusalem to those of a hen. We read in Matthew 23:37: “Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Murderer of prophets! Killer of the ones who brought you God’s news! How often I’ve ached to embrace your children, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you wouldn’t let me.”  

When the hen sees a predator coming, she makes a loud noise to gather her chicks, so she can wrap her wings around them and protect them from danger.  

Like a mother hen who wants to hide her brood under her wings when trouble comes, God wants to protect His people from the dangers of life by inviting them to stay close to Him.  

However, Jesus’ words at the end of verse 37 are heartbreaking: “… but you would not!”  

The gift God gave us to choose for ourselves often leads to our death. God does not force us to love and obey Him. We can choose. In the same way, a hen cannot force her chicks to move in under her wings when danger threatens.  

On Mother’s Day, I want to remind you that God has given you special qualities as a mother to protect and guide. Even if your chicks may choose wrongly, I believe you, like Jesus, will always be there if they decide to seek safety with you.  

God, our Father, was the Creator of every mother. Every mother is, therefore, created in God’s image. That is why we thank Him for giving us the capacity to protect and guide, but also to be able to handle the rejection, as He still deals with the rejection of His children daily.  

Scripture
Matthew 23:37

Reflection 
Are you a mother hen who must deal with disappointment?
How are you comforted by God today?
Are you a chick who choose not to enjoy His protection?
What comfort and hope have you found today?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the qualities of a mother hen that You have given to mothers. Jesus, thank You that You know the sadness of rejection. Thank you for a secure safe place for us under Your wings. Holy Spirit, remind us that stubbornness can have heartbreaking consequences, but that we can choose to move back under Your wings of safety. We pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.