Harley The Skinny Chicken

Harley the Skinny Chicken

Bible Blast: Read Romans 12:1-3

Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty. Matthew 23:11-12 (The Message)

Harley was the biggest, fattest chicken on Farmer Tuttle’s farm. He worked very hard at being a big chicken by eating his food, plus any food that was left over at feeding times. Sometimes he even stole food from other chickens! Every day Harley went around, strutting his stuff and showing off his very plump self. The girl chickens thought he was the most handsome thing they had ever laid eyes on. Harley loved the attention he got. The only hen that didn’t act that way around Harley was Martha, and she was his very best friend.

One day Martha ran as fast as she could to find Harley, who was eating, of course. She said, “Harley! Harley! Farmer Tuttle and his wife were just standing by the fence, looking at all the chickens. Mrs. Tuttle said Christmas is coming up soon and she wants the biggest, fattest chicken in the barnyard for their Christmas dinner, and she pointed right at you!”

Harley spit out his food. “Wh—what? They’re going to eat me for Christmas dinner?! Oh no!”

Martha put her wing around him to help him feel better. “Harley, I think I’ve got a plan. They want a fat chicken, not a skinny one. Why don’t you stop eating until you burst and instead just eat until your stomach’s full?”

Harley squawked, “That’s a great plan!”

Right away Harley began eating just until his tummy was full at mealtimes, and he started getting smaller and smaller. When the day came for Farmer Tuttle to get a chicken for his wife to cook, he stood in the barnyard and looked right at Harley and said, “Well, how did that happen? You used to be plump, and now you’re skinny as a broom! Guess I’ll have to get another chicken for the wife.” And that’s what he did.

Harley and Martha let out a big sigh of relief that day and had the best Christmas two chickens could have.

Girl Gab: Harley learned that being the biggest isn’t always the best idea. Do you ever get distracted from what’s best because you’re more concerned about what others think of you? Tell God that you want to do what’s best, even if it means you won’t get tons of attention for it.