stuckinindiana: Abigail - Wise and Determined

She was beautiful & intelligent... She was wise and determined to take action... She prevented disaster from happening to good people... She set a great example for those around her... She was ABIGAIL, wife of Nabal.

As some of you know, we became "backyard chicken" owners in the spring of 2015. We got 5 pullets (female chickens under the age of 1) when they were about 14 weeks old. Over the past 18+ months our 3.5 acre yard has become their home. I'd been advised by a friend who had grown up with chickens that I would be surprised by how much individual personality they exhibited. And... I was surprised.

I'd decided early on that I wanted to name the girls based upon their personalities & actions. So, I began observing them. While others tried to name them things like "Big Booty Judy", my mind was set upon using women's names from the Bible. I thought this could be a great lesson in the years to come for our then 2 year old "Little" one. A few names came to mind - as I was more familiar with their stories in the Bible. I consulted with my favorite female scholar & sister friend, Aunt Kimmy, for confirmation of my thoughts & additional name recommendations. I took notes of our conversation that day as we sat beside the cement pond. I still have those notes.

As the weeks went by, the first one to be named was Abigail. She was the first to allow the Little to pick her up. She was the first to jump on top of their "Spa". She was the first to investigate the perches I'd made inside their chicken run. She was the first to lead them back to the run and into the chicken coop at dusk. She was the first of many things. She was beautiful -- with 3 dominant white feathers at the base of each wing. The others seemed to put her in a place of leadership. She would often call out for them when a hawk was heard screeching in the distance.

We lost our Abigail to a predator the day before Thanksgiving. I was a bit surprised at how emotional I was over it. It was pretty traumatic seeing what that animal did to her. However, my sadness went deeper than that. I, an educated and most-of-the-time rational adult, had begun to see those chickens as more than mere wild animals.

I returned to the Bible to read the story of Abigail in the 25th chapter of 1 Samuel. And, I consulted a post from Bible Study Tools as I reflected upon the name I'd chosen for her in those early days. If you're able, take a few minutes to read the story in 1 Samuel 25. Also, here are a few excerpts from the Bible Study Tools post:

Abigail ("whose father is joy") definitely belongs in the study of great women of the Bible. She is the one (in our study) whom most people are less likely to know. Scripture presents her as a beautiful, intelligent woman whose lot in life is one of being married to a rich fool. Abigail reveals how wisdom and determined action need to partner in order to save good people from disaster. Being wise in itself may not be sufficient in some situations. Without taking immediate action, it is possible to simply stand by and watch destruction that could be avoided. Abigail was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance. She was both beautiful and intelligent. Except for her intervention, the obliteration of her husband and his household would surely have been the result. She stood in the gap protecting both parties. Her decisive action allowed life to continue. She seized the information given, understood what needed to be done, and then did it.

It appears that our Abigail lost her life in protecting the other 4 hens - who hid up in the branches of a thicket until I came calling for them. Although the outcome of our Abigail and the Abigail in the Old Testament are different, I see so many similarities between them. I am thankful that I felt led to name her ABIGAIL!