The other day I was cleaning Safia and Jacob's bookcase. Can you believe that, between the two of them, they had multiple copies of the story Chicken Little? I'm not certain where they all came from or why we kept them. After all, as the primary reader in our house, this is one book I would never choose on my own!
As you probably recall, this is a story about a chick who, when hit on the head by a falling acorn, concludes that the sky is falling. She then decides that the king must be informed of this important event. On her way to the palace, she meets other animals who, upon hearing the news, decide to join her in her quest to warn the king.
Now, believe it or not, the original ending of the story includes a fox who invites the animals to his lair where he promptly eats them all. In the newer versions, however, the animals arrive at the palace where the king listens to what they have to say, then gently tells them the sky is fine and the world is not ending.
Needless to say, if ever forced to read the story, I will be ever so grateful that the modern ending is positive and upbeat. No one is eaten and all their fears are relieved. That is what I call a good ending to any fairytale.
As adults, however, we know that life is not a fairytale. Our problems are not always resolved in a happily ever after way. Sometimes we face problems that have no easy answer. Sometimes we are the victims of other people's bad choices. Sometimes . . . well, sometimes . . . life is just unfair and there is not
a thing we can do about it!
While there is much in this world to fear, far too often we become like Chicken Little. We allow our fears to consume us. And in those moments, it seems as though the sky really is falling.
Yet, if we take our worries to the King - if we tell God exactly what is bothering us and what fears are controlling us - then wonderful things happen. The first thing we will discover is that our problems look so much smaller - so much more manageable - when they are in God's hands instead of on our shoulders. We also learn that sometimes things aren't what they seem! While it may appear as though the sky is falling and the end is near, God is still in control.
So even in the worst of times, we are not alone. Christ has promised to always be with us to guide and direct us through those moments of darkness, fear, and grief. And if we remember all of this, if we listen to the King and follow his directions, then we will live happily ever after.
