It was an ordinary late afternoon when I stepped out my back door. Just weeks ago, it would have been too early to lock up the chicken coop for the night, but the light fades earlier now and my routine has shifted. When I reached the chicken pen, I froze. Black feathers littered the ground.
“Oh no,” I thought. “Did a predator get in?”
Then I saw her, our Black Australorp, slowly rounding the corner with her usual nonchalant strut. She stopped in front of me and gave a vigorous shake, the way a dog does after a bath. More feathers fluttered to the ground. She was fine. She was simply molting.
Chickens molt to shed their old, worn feathers and make way for new ones. It’s a natural process that takes place in late summer or early fall. This renewal strengthens them and is necessary for their well-being. It’s a cycle of restoration before the harshness of winter sets in.
We could learn a lot from this process. Each of us carries things that have grown old and tattered—habits, attitudes, fears, or burdens that no longer serve us well. Maybe it’s a lingering resentment, an unforgiving heart, or an unconfessed sin. It might even be the clutter we hang on to just for the comfort of familiarity. Whatever form it takes, these things weigh us down.
If we never shed them, we leave ourselves more exposed to the cold storms of life. If we don’t release our burdens, there’s no space for new growth and we’ll stay stuck in the same place.
As the year draws to a close, it’s a good time to pause and reflect. What do I need to shed so I can grow stronger in the days ahead? Are there worries, habits, attitudes, or other burdens keeping me from growing?
Letting go is just the beginning, and it isn’t always easy. It means loosening our grip on what’s familiar and trusting God with the space left behind. That open space is where renewal begins, growing through the steady, faithful choices we make each day. May you find joy in both the releasing and the growing, trusting that as you surrender what’s old, God’s already nurturing what’s to come.
