That’s What Friends Cock-a-Doodle-Do!

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7 NIV

“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”

Rooster strutted across the chicken yard. He was the King of the Coop. The strongest. The loudest. The scariest.

His crow hurt his ears. His wings scattered the hens. His sharp spurs poked and pierced.

The hens kept their distance. No one dared challenge him.

One morning, the coop shook with panic. Rooster thrashed and screeched beside the fence. The hens froze.

Minnie-Henny ran toward the noise.

“Rooster, what’s wrong?”

“I’m trapped!” Rooster squawked. “This terrible wire has caught my claw! I can’t get free!”

Rusty wire wrapped around his foot. The more Rooster pulled, the tighter it squeezed. Blood stained his talons.

Minnie-Henny gasped. “Oh, Rooster! Your leg!”

“I don’t need your help,” Rooster boasted. “I’m the King of the Coop!”

But Minnie-Henny didn’t back away. She ducked under his wings. She pecked at the sharp wire. It scratched her head. It poked her beak. Still, she kept going.

At last—Snap!

The wire broke.

Rooster tumbled backward. He was free.

The next day, Minnie-Henny pecked at corn near the barn.

Suddenly—THUD!

A heavy wooden crate slammed down.

She cried out. She couldn’t move. The weight crushed her small body.

Rooster heard her call. He rushed over. He flapped his wings. He clawed at the crate.

“Hold on!” Rooster crowed.

He wrapped his strong claws around the boards. He pulled. He lifted. Bit by bit, the crate moved.

Minnie-Henny wiggled free.

Rooster looked down at Minnie-Henny. “Guess I was wrong yesterday about needing help—and needing to help others. My pride got the best of me.”

“A pick, a peck, you saved my neck. The important thing is you came when I needed you — and that’s what friends cock-a-doodle-do!”

---

Julie Hagel