Life lesson #412 while living the past year on our small family farm: When there’s poo, most people avoid the situation, missing the goodness.

I’ve shared about our chickens before. And I feel like God reveals so much about how we behave through them. They’re kind of spellbinding and fascinating.

When chickens lay eggs . . . those eggs may be a bit messy. Most eggs have a little poo stuck on them. {I realize this is a strange conversation for (in)courage. Bear with me.} The chicken coop aromas aren’t quite like the refrigerated section at the grocery store. And most of our friends are not quick to gather eggs or step in hay that might have a little ‘gift.’

I’ve learned that poo is part of the process.

It’s a gift, to know I’m getting farm fresh eggs. Crazy? I scrub off the poo before making an omelet or sharing a carton of eggs with new friends. I’m more connected to what’s really happening, how this food got to me and the daily work of a chicken to make it for me. I’m coming to realize my friends don’t feel the same.

Most of us don’t want to deal with poo, the latest mess, a detour or a have-to-deal-with-it-to-get-to-the-other-side kind of yuck.

The idea of garden fresh vegetables is all “summertime and picnics” until you realize there’s dirt under your nails and sweat and bugs involved with no guarantees of a good crop.

Why are we so surprised we have to survive the poo to get to the good stuff?

Every mama knows cuddling a little baby requires changing the poopie diaper. And the blowouts in the unplanned public places. And the spit up down your shirt after a long awaited shower.

The miracle is worth the mess.

We’re a sanitized society. Not just about our food or children, but also about our faith and God.

Every fulfilled dream looks beautiful at the end of the journey. I guarantee when asked away from instagram, that friend you look up to would tell you about the hard days, the times of wanting to give up, when it was too hard or just difficult, tiring work. When she was knee deep in yuck and didn’t feel like going on.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him. {James 1:12}

Poo always shows up during the adventure.

God may call it hard times, high waters, battles with demons not flesh and blood. However you want to name it, the mess will arrive in the middle of your journey. But that doesn’t mean the miracle won’t happen.

So that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is test by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. {See 1 Peter 1:7}

I don’t know why the yuck shows up and must be dealt with. I’m sure God knows what He’s doing.

There’s a reason to allow the mess with Job, so I’m sure the poo in my life will serve a purpose if I just let Him use it. There’s probably something about sanctification in that.

Come, let us return to the Lord; for He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has struck us down, and He will bind us up. {Hosea 6:1}

Scrubbing the poo off the egg makes me appreciate the miracle of the egg. That makes me thankful.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. {Romans 8:18}

God promises us the mess to get to the miracle — Joshua fighting from town to town to secure the Promised Land, Jesus born in a manger on His way to save the world, and Paul singing praises to God in prison as part of his Good News spreading journey.

See God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has given me victory. With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! In that wonderful day you will sing: ‘Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the nations what He has done. Let them know how mighty He is! Sing to the Lord, for He has done wonderful things.’ {Isaiah 12:2-5}

That’s the point of poo, right? For God to show up and save us from the yuck, the hard, the neck deep high waters, the part of life we don’t think we can overcome or deal with.

The point of poo is for God to have the opportunity to rescue us, save us, to be glorified. The true miracle.

Sing to the Lord, for He has done wonderful things.

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