A Year of Gratitude – February 18, 2024

Gratitude was waiting for me in the nest box of our chicken coop this morning. It was cold outside, but there were warm fresh eggs waiting for me to collect in my egg basket. That always makes morning chores seem a bit warmer.

One of our hens had been sitting on the nest, protecting these eggs from the cold. She happily left that job behind when I came to open up the coop.

I watched as she joined the other hens and waited her turn to go outside. She stretched her legs as she waited. She popped through the arched door, set her feet on the top of the ramp, and then made her way down the ramp to the ground below.

It was cold outside, but the warm sunshine made the covered run feel cozy inside. I talked to the hens, wishing them a good morning as I always do. I scattered scratch, some seeds, and a few veggie scraps from the kitchen for them.

I stood there for a moment and watched our hens. They were happily wandering about, pecking at each bit of food and carefully watching to make sure that they weren’t missing out on something just beyond their reach. They were making their happy hen sounds as they made their way through the morning buffet.

I left the run and made my way to the old barn to put away my gear from morning chores. Then I headed outside to retrieve those fresh eggs. I thanked the girls for the eggs and closed up the coop to head back inside the farmhouse.

The eggs were still a bit warm when I took off my gloves. I added them to the egg basket on the kitchen counter. I smiled at the beautiful colors and patterns on the eggs in that basket.

I have been a chicken keeper for more than a decade now. The thrill of collecting fresh eggs hasn’t faded a bit. Each one is such a marvel of nature. How lucky I have been to collect dozen upon dozen of them from our hens over the years, to tend to a flock that helps to feed my family.

Yes, I found my gratitude in the chicken coop this morning. It was being protected by a kind hen and the warmth of her body. Those fresh eggs will feed my family and nourish our bodies. Collecting them and tending to the hens that provide them feeds my soul. How could I be anything but grateful to be a part of that?

I hope that your day gave you something to be filled with gratitude for and that it landed gently.

This post is part of our A Year of Gratitude Series. You can find the introduction, inspiration, and entire year’s gratitude’s posts here.