This is a true story, however, names have been changed.
It was the first of May and the Smiths, our neighbors that live across the field from us, were going on vacation for a week and asked if we could care for their chickens while they were gone. They have a dozen or so and I love doing it. It's a good walk over to their place and the two of us enjoy the exercise together.
It was our first day of caring for the chickens. At 4:30 in the afternoon, I went over there, by myself, to take the vegetable scraps I had been saving for the chickens and to gather the eggs. When the chickens saw me coming, they got all excited and started jumping up and down against the fence. I pitched the scraps over the fence into the pen.
While they were occupied, I went inside the little chicken house to gather the eggs from the 4 nests that are located under the window. Usually by that time of the day, there are no chickens on the nests. To my surprise, there were 3 chickens on the nests. Being an old farm girl, I gently ran my hand under the chickens and gathered all the eggs and took them home. I thought to myself, "They are really laying good." I had a bunch of eggs.
When I got home, Bill, my husband, told me that they had stopped gathering the eggs because the chickens were sitting on them. Oops!!! Nobody told me! They do have a rooster. So I took off down the path to return the eggs back to the hens.
When I entered the chicken house, three chickens came running through the cut out into the house to see what else I had for them to eat. I hadn't planned on that. I quickly shut the door so they couldn't get outside. I took my foot and gently gave them a little shove out the hole and back into the chicken pen. I proceeded to put the eggs back under the hens.
After returning the eggs to the hens, I went to open the door and it was locked! I was locked up in that tiny, dark chicken house where the chickens lay their eggs and also roost at night! I could not get out! I looked out the window and could see Bill plowing the garden. While I was gone, he had gotten the tractor out. There was not a soul in hollowing distance.
I just happened to have my flip phone and was hoping the battery was still charged. We don't get good cell service and there was no signal. I started to panic. I moved around in the chicken house trying to find a signal. I called Bill's cell phone and it did not go through.
I paced the little space on the floor and tried the phone again while leaning over the chicken's nests and holding the phone near the window. I called Katherine who lives across the road from us. Fortunately, I got though but got the answering machine. I left a message, "Katherine, Bill is plowing the garden and I'm locked up in the chicken house. Please, come over and tell him to get me out of here!" I didn't even know if she was home.
I kicked the door. It didn't budge. I prayed, "Lord, please get me out of here."
I looked out again and Bill was still plowing. I knew it would be a while before he went to the house and missed me.
I kept trying to figure out what to do. Standing on my tip toes and leaning over the chicken's nest again to get as close to the window as I could, I called my friend, Maxine. She lives 4 miles from me. I was so relieved to hear her voice when she answered the phone.
I told her I was locked up in my neighbor's chicken house. Bill was plowing the garden and I needed for her to come and tell him where I was.
She said, "Is this a joke?" I said, "No! I locked myself up in the chicken house! I'm serious. I need you!" She thought that was hilarious and said she would be right out. I knew it would take her at least 10 minutes to get here.
As I looked out the window, I patiently waited. In a few minutes, I saw Katherine crossing the road and heading for the garden where Bill was still plowing. She told Bill I had called and the phone was breaking up but she thought she heard me say something about being locked up in a chicken house. He laughed and said, "I know exactly where she is. That's a good place for her."
That was a pretty sight when I saw him turn the tractor toward the path and come to my rescue.
I was some kind of thankful to get out of that chicken house. When I was walking back home, I saw Maxine driving down the path to meet me. I smelled too bad to get in her car and ride back home. We had a good laugh.
When I got home, I pulled off all my clothes, put them in the washing machine and took a hot shower. I even used my Netti Pot and rinsed my nose.
Don't underestimate the power of prayer. You don't have to get on your knees for God to hear your plea.
What a great story! I grew up on a farm, too, but I never had the nerve to reach under the chickens. I was just sure they'd peck me.
I really hesitated telling this story but thought it might help to cheer some folks up during these trying times with the worldwide virus we are facing. I really do believe in the power of prayer and my prayers have been answered so many times.
What a great 'story' and I can understand how you must have felt -trapped in a small dark space - very unnerving I'm sure. I'm just glad your prayer wave lengths did not have to travel very far and someone was available to come to your rescue.
Some people might question why your phone did not pick up in the beginning but then seem to miraculously go through after a few 'stressful' minutes had passed. I did say miraculously...
Thanks for this posting.
These are the kind of stories I like to pass on to my grandchildren so maybe if they ever get into a similar situation, they'll remember it when it's time to ask for a 'miracle' and; believe it will/can happen.
When I was in 6th grade, my grandmother told me that if you believe, God will answer your prayers. Well, I prayed and prayed for a black horse with white stockings and a blaze face. I wanted one so badly.
As I got older, I became more active in sports and other things and forget about my childhood prayers but I still wanted a horse of my own.
It was not until I was in the 10th grade that my daddy came up with $100.00 to spend on a horse. We went looking for one.
I looked at 2 horses but they were not for sale. The last fellow I talked to told me about a girl that lived up the road from him that had a horse for sale.
We went there. The girl called the horse to come. When the horse peeped around the corner of the barn, I saw the black head with a blaze face and then she came around the corner. She had 4 white stockings. The price was $100.00, exactly what we had to give. Saddle and bridle came with her as well.
She was the best horse anyone could have as far as being gentle and sweet. She was not perfect, by no means, but just what I needed. It's been 64 years since then and I still regret trading her for one that was more spirited. I hope to see her in heaven one of these days.
I do believe God answers our prayers but not always in the way we want them but he knows what is best for us. He knows our future.
