׉?4ׁB!בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://GwJNDV6rC5w_4dfUU8Mkz2EmSLoej6reUzPdZSEPYz8+j`׉ 7cassandra://LFzXVQSwbueq2NoqHPiFoWFQRyxM9d6tYkKxNV5-KrIg`s׉ 7cassandra://a_v1oYmNx9iBgNYsz9rbZ0wq72pDsQv5f1KqmrZW1og&`i lzԦט(u׈)~׈Ei lzԑ׉EThe Hen’s Cry OPALE FRANK ׉ 7cassandra://a_v1oYmNx9iBgNYsz9rbZ0wq72pDsQv5f1KqmrZW1og&`i lzԒi lzԑ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://945uKunQ_I8zv9cpYLyrJs_fd-VVG-fOZ5nWSSezsxY`׉ 7cassandra://fDkxyQDZh4KOWpW9K42DHvSYuUtt5rE87yAMJTYOa-8%`s׉ 7cassandra://lYVpM47akx7wsbnJmzFVcbgoNVbAXg8qNOzl_LPfdr4 ?`i lzԩט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://TQXkVHHPOhtWHgJ7OBULxzbqpvT8SUaOsESNfEQcJl0lC`׉ 7cassandra://lxthoQvKBgChA7JXrRJTI2QpJCWy183CfHv420Osvr4k`s׉ 7cassandra://CHt91RpPpadlqxqv1AdnanuejFJ78IPwslH4SXwtgCE`i lzԪ׉E Contents 1. Introduction to this hen’s life 2. When Coccidiosis attacked 3. Reflection 4. Lessons learnt from this hen 5. Conclusion pg. 2 pg. 3 pg. 6 pg. 6 pg. 14 6. Final remarks to both parents and children pg. 15 7. A story told me by my Mum pg. 15 1 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://lYVpM47akx7wsbnJmzFVcbgoNVbAXg8qNOzl_LPfdr4 ?`i lzԓ׉EINTRODUCTION Early 2026 something told me to observe this hen. Beautiful it was in appearance, with so much expectations from the owner who is a brother of mine. Twenty one days, it took brooding its eggs. Tough it was, and each time after brooding, it rushed out of the house with so much vigour causing the rest of the hens and cocks to flee for safety. As it lay on its eggs, we too faced it roughly as its beak intercepted any approaching feet. Eventually, we had the chirping of the chicks. Regardless, it took three more days sitting on them with no food or drink, patiently waiting for each egg to hatch. On the third day, it moved out with eight chicks leaving four eggs unhatched. At twilight, due to the height of the door step, its chicks often got stranded, hence lingering outside until helped amidst heavy scratches from its mother. On the other hand, no hen, cock or other chicks (birds) could access the door which was under blockage by this hen. A few days later, these chicks too developed the strength and attitude to access the entrance with no need for assistance. However, I noticed a great change in this hens’ character ever since it hatched; everything became exclusive to it with its chicks, for instance, 2 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://CHt91RpPpadlqxqv1AdnanuejFJ78IPwslH4SXwtgCE`i lzԔi lzԓ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://SrbKcT3B1ZeWItAeIbgJ63HUU8NTyLVhjQFQ4-R19ock`׉ 7cassandra://nIRVUflidmxD8OZsy2BWB_B7OD_xMOBlrkvFfV2tiVEjp`s׉ 7cassandra://WnIaC5J54NFtYGDIrSG48GzsFlSPeXqd28qeh4d--3M:`i lzԭט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://CSDjnAMeGXPGIJThct80s5tIHZfgpbhRNnBjs90BXxIU`׉ 7cassandra://xm19nmnY0zReh806PwX_RBEKaA1x2GElSh4hJUpizAYg`s׉ 7cassandra://lRlB4rb5y9R4ffb0fgsGEtt-FCSKctZOfLrsYb1SK7Y`i lzԮ׉Ethe feeder was fled from upon its sight by the other birds which posed a threat to all birds inclusive of the biggest cock which now became its puppet. Its presence in the compound was felt, and its chicks distinguishable from the rest due to their entitlement even with their mother at a distance. One day, a cat captured one of its chicks which we noticed having seen it chasing this cat wherever it went. Disappointing it was, to its owner who rescued this chick late having the cat’s teeth already chocked it to death. With seven chicks left, and to avert any further attacks from this cat, boundaries were erected hence a breather to this hen. About two weeks and a half later, Coccidiosis broke out in the area hence putting all bird owners on high alert. This however did not take long, when the neighbours’ outcry was heard, having this disease wiped out all their birds in just a few days. The birds which once loitered around now started to become scarce with the only option left to the owners being eating those mature since medication did not avail any quick recovery to the rapidly dying birds. Coccidiosis is a severe, fatal parasitic disease of the intestinal tract in poultry caused by Eimeria or Isospora protozoa which causes severe 3 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://WnIaC5J54NFtYGDIrSG48GzsFlSPeXqd28qeh4d--3M:`i lzԕ׉Ediarrhea, rapid weight loss, dehydration, among other effects, symptomized by bloody or mucus-filled droppings, ruffled feathers, pale combs, lethargy, decreased appetite, and huddling. (As per Google) Much as most birds at the neighbourhood had succumbed to this disease, none of our birds had yet been affected until a fateful afternoon when a neighbour came and told my mother that her birds were no longer safe. This notice to me was clear proof that our birds were the next which was evidenced by this specific hen being affected by swollen eyes on the next day. This intensity of this disease was not new to us since it once wiped out an entire compound filled with birds hence discouraging us from poultry keeping. My mother had just revived poultry keeping the previous year having missed chicken at a wedding party where chicken was served hence rejuvenating poultry keeping spirit for food consumption purposes. Upon us seeing this bird’s eye affected, we intensified on the treatment so as to avert any further possible effects on the rest of the birds which shared the same house. Medication did not seem to work on this hen hence the disease blinding both its eyes. 4 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://lRlB4rb5y9R4ffb0fgsGEtt-FCSKctZOfLrsYb1SK7Y`i lzԖi lzԕ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://kc94DQZQMek-8CMi7s6bELmjr2yHyOwf4RzQ8-jqTHA&`׉ 7cassandra://Hrh234a9GUkgB20mFD81XHHjrdGoTNWlz-Y4hZh77fgb`s׉ 7cassandra://dUOqVXSjyelUFr91DQFQbioRGszNbRTkf_v5HdNjYyQ`i lzԱט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://H6v0EKDfpgI0n5Ozmpa8LonlYwAyKHGEaQhA0wr2MS4U`׉ 7cassandra://vF5_9n2VlxlPYmU42bN2x856i1ncpsiuvWdMvG9CBck^%`s׉ 7cassandra://hshOK_Qa2Gro-xaEvoIwujggkih3rbC8wnGEvJ7JyFA`i lzԲ׉EtThis pitied us upon seeing a once vibrant mother hen totally weak with no appetite to eat but surrounded by its chicks jumping and sitting over it. With no way of explaining to the chicks about the risks they could face when affected by the same disease, we tried to separate this hen from its chicks however the chicks always found their way back to their ailing mother. Soon grief hit its owner who knew the consequences of this hen not eating would eventually lead to death. Much as we tried to forcefully feed it, it deliberately refused to eat due to appetite loss. On the next day, it died. I thought that its owner would be emotionally broken, however he woke up knowing what had happened as he claims to have dreamt about its death. This therefore meant Alas! To these chicks. When the rains fell, they were beaten with no thought of fleeing to any shade because they were raised to know that their mother would always cover them. We took up some of their mothers’ responsibilities, unfortunately, they too were already affected with this disease. Daily, they arose to sun bath until sunset with no appetite for food. 5 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://dUOqVXSjyelUFr91DQFQbioRGszNbRTkf_v5HdNjYyQ`i lzԗ׉EOne-by-one they died till the very last. All the other birds followed through a similar cycle, although we ate some for a meal before they died. REFLECTION After observing everything, I was sent to reflect on how many people live like this hen. It reminded me of the rich man’s cry to father Abraham in LUKE 16:2728 saying, “I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come this place of torment.” Lessons from this hen 1. Essence of character ECCLESIASTES 1:9 says, “That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.” This clearly teaches us to allow love lead our lives because to just imagine that we are not first to live on the surface of this earth and neither shall we be the last, is humbling. To daily watch this hen scratch the other hens denying them the opportunity to feed along with its chicks, and continuously chasing them 6 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://hshOK_Qa2Gro-xaEvoIwujggkih3rbC8wnGEvJ7JyFA`i lzԘi lzԗ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://dd8VCeq6v1NwdlZqP3xK4fj6Vtewzr5liloVVmhetQg%`׉ 7cassandra://YwVavoVtdwdyO9Jw9HWZONfr-o8FkqXZdaAf7piDt5I^:`s׉ 7cassandra://eoNPtNfhFMCE114YLXZE-lHLynFN8pyddVWnDnip6a0w`i lzԵט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://KQaRS2NHX7YAtuSFel4ZyqbpjB9EGMOjryLUb84hrXE=`׉ 7cassandra://Hpo8Mow5drP9nIMOur_BnLlGa6A_wRyEazSHQP0VTD4j`s׉ 7cassandra://nOjQtdyTkKeeV6_P646WP06dBVQroXHb0Kqxky0yGDI`i lzԶ׉Enaway reminded me about how myopic some people choose to live their lives. At the time of this hens’ death, there was another hen with chicks almost the size of those it left behind, however, my belief is that if this hen had built a friendly relationship with the one that remained alive, perhaps it would foster its chicks, but only for the short-sightedness of the deceased hen which believed in its superiority and ego. Painful story my Uncle narrated to me He being a policeman and a crew member assigned to guard a certain judge told me of how they were mistreated, and how they were referred to as dogs by this judge. He narrates that one day as they sat next to the veranda at this judge’s residence, this judge while on the first floor called out his children and while leaning on the balcony pointed at these officers while telling his children, “I do not want you to be like those dogs”. The men and women whom he referred to as ‘dogs’ are the very people who offered him security inclusive of his very own family. This is how some people have chosen to be led by bad character rather than humility. 7 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://eoNPtNfhFMCE114YLXZE-lHLynFN8pyddVWnDnip6a0w`i lzԙ׉E2. Always distance children from your issues I have seen parents who have always used their children as shields in matters beyond their mental ability to handle hence causing psychological torture to them and consequently mental health issues. Just like this hen which extended its chicks in a friendly manner towards it yet aware that it was affected by disease and as well knowing that these chicks would be prone to the same, so do many parents and guardians do to their children; encouraging them to follow the wrong path of life rather than standing up to correct them whenever they go wrong. It is divine wisdom to keep children neutral to whatever the parents are going through, and most importantly keeping them in a safe environment for their growth. For instance, no matter what a spouse has done, it is a wise thing to handle such issues outside the reach or hearing of the children. This is important because children are led by emotions and never about reason, so they can easily side with any parent or guardian, and for some end up carrying hatred and burdens in their hearts at a young age. 3. Teach your children to both know and love their relatives In this world, many families live in isolation from the people who really matter in life, and these are relatives. 8 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://nOjQtdyTkKeeV6_P646WP06dBVQroXHb0Kqxky0yGDI`i lzԚi lzԙ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://NaklBf0H8gSfblChf0sRtdcL5-_fksR35SNfS-ziNBw"`׉ 7cassandra://wnEPFts7xV3oFTdi0IJClQhrNoJOeqNIZpd7_rIJYm0p`s׉ 7cassandra://phV7XVy87QwL2fGQH4Gtylq-9xmlk6uxa-2msd8J2Yw`i lzԹט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://WtvsEi_oY0-4Izl89MbRN3ycypJBBqjkpvNmvHqwNiM>`׉ 7cassandra://sJmekhAut7rIequ6K37cSUQJkypg_lvqiF1bk6NP-y4dj`s׉ 7cassandra://ReTsusiC5S6v-9pIoekAaMleyvwkpAKDdR55yj8XNGEp`i lzԺ׉E-Some parents assume that staying away from their relatives is the solution to healing the past wounds, however this is wrong because like this hen which lived in isolation, its chicks ended up being so lonely in a compound they once possessed. The importance of relatives cannot be over emphasized, however one can learn from this real story. I once saw a man who for a long time built in town and had amassed a lot of wealth, however by the time he passed on, he had not left anything back in his village implying that he did not associate nor support anyone from his home family. This became a reproach to him though gone, for he was mocked by both his people back home, as well as his friends who wondered what manner of man the deceased was hence a lesson to many who ignore their homes, from where everything began. It also looks beautiful when a family is united and cooperative, for this inspires other families and people therefore bringing a good repute. I recently attended a function where the master of ceremony interjected any person who sought to expose the family’s shortcomings in the presence of guests. He often said, “You cannot wash the family’s undergarments in public”, which I believe is an important aspect calling for discernment as to the right forum to address specific issues. 9 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://phV7XVy87QwL2fGQH4Gtylq-9xmlk6uxa-2msd8J2Yw`i lzԛ׉EI always do tell people that problems should not be the motivation for a hypocritical and temporal unity, because as a family joy should be celebrated together with long-lasting unity and love. Imagine the joy found in celebrating an important event in life convened by most relatives. Relatives are important, and children should relate with them at all costs even if it means sending them for holidays back home, which should be emphasized by parents and guardians. I have been so disappointed by some children who can hardly speak their mother tongue. To some although given local names, do not take pride in being called by the same. All children should remember this, that they can never be wiser than their parents who named them even before they could become anything although exception is put to some names which are ungodly. I have seen some children getting praised for their inability to speak their local language which isn’t hilarious, because why would an elderly person be made to bend to a foreign language they hardly speak or understand instead of a child embracing the same for purposes of communicating to such elderly people. 10 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://ReTsusiC5S6v-9pIoekAaMleyvwkpAKDdR55yj8XNGEp`i lzԜi lzԛ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://-7KhDqa0qwMDZErYnvLIK94tQDafvNCI0Xw00pU38pw.`׉ 7cassandra://003dBXJ27VR92eqwR-_FsD2iJB8fd9QyQBJUaB-nLfk^`s׉ 7cassandra://h2-BzlQe4TZvmLirI_xPBFgeNO56oKQzftSh5byDxLI`i lzԼט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://xVVqtEBeA3yfVN8u0BWio7Hn1cnbz7LpF7mLweF_tmMr`׉ 7cassandra://6dACJIID12l5EYaEMu17ol6oO2DwuPBPeQJ2nxsiBN4iW`s׉ 7cassandra://rbsxz15Hds42ytnwtskeE8pm46sabYm7ZFElL0VCbFM`i lzԽ׉Ez4. Always teach children to build their own legacies I love watching cartoons and one titled “Simba – the lion king” amuses me in that many people ride on the legacies of their parents, which is good. However when a child learns that they too have to build their own, this provokes them to do better and set a pace for the coming generations. When this hen died, it meant that an entire lineage was vulnerable to suffer the consequences of this loss. 5. Wisdom is the best Inheritance PROVERBS 24:3 says, “Through wisdom a house is built”. Many parents have invested most of their time in piling inheritance for their children instead of investing wisdom into them. I have seen children who have inherited great wealth from their parents only to squander it. Yes, wealth was left for them but not even the simplest of the wisdoms that ‘birth rights are not for sale’ was not deposited into them. If wisdom builds a house, then much emphasis should be placed to it by all parents because wisdom is justified by her children [LUKE 7:35]. In other words, your legacy will only be complete by the success of your children. 11 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://h2-BzlQe4TZvmLirI_xPBFgeNO56oKQzftSh5byDxLI`i lzԝ׉E6. Hate is a divider whereas love is a reconciler There are homes where children from other homes are prohibited access, children advised to make friends with only the rich kids claiming that the poor ones are thieves or trash. A house of love will always be peaceable, filled with joy because love unites people, and attracts wealth and health. This hen did not have any friend and was proud to hate all the other birds on a fallacy assumption of protecting its chicks. It is therefore important to love people unconditionally regardless of the positive or negative energy they repay, because Jesus Christ teaches us to love both our friends and enemies [MATTHEW 5:44]. 7. Obscurity of the Future Just like this hen lived in an uncertainty of the days ahead of it, so do many people live. However, is this how life should be lived? Certainly not! For unbelievers, it is okay to live so, but for a Christian with a relationship with God, their future should not be a mystery but a mirror of what they already know. In other words, nothing should catch them off guard. 8. Committing children to God It is an important thing to give children a firm foundation of Christ, and this is why child dedication is an important aspect in a child’s life, because 12 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://rbsxz15Hds42ytnwtskeE8pm46sabYm7ZFElL0VCbFM`i lzԞi lzԝ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://9tT9AEfVVTmcKeeYu4uJi3LSJHh7YZMzVLnjcCSH_2YM`׉ 7cassandra://R4Zyn6F379e5mKyXNO0KQPkY3CpnfCYUsnUFUUAYxgIfL`s׉ 7cassandra://4H_sexwnb8Z6YlibfJJZnrNyCo4dwVv8PAV0T3pBepQy`i lzԿט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://87qokXRVqhwd-moa8YpEO9mSPDHFH3-Do48fMCs738wY`׉ 7cassandra://27w5P4KncHJ68J_-7egU4csY4FOxajnvMjK_LquXzmIi0`s׉ 7cassandra://wlkfROABl9eQSSROxPu8zojF9yPtjITwJ89ZqtgH3es)`i lz׉Ea child is committed to God Who is able to keep them even after their parents’ departure. It is further a necessity to ground children in the knowledge of Our Heavenly Father, GOD. This is important because as children grow up, they should be able to build their own personal relationship with God. This also relates to how much liberty is given to children by parents or guardians when it comes to the things of God. I am blessed to have parents who have always granted me unrestrained permission to freely serve God, and so should all parents grant to their children. 9. Preparation This is one of the most undermined aspect of life by most parents. They were raised to become what they are, but instead of doing the same to better their children, they have instead taken up both their roles and those of the children under their guardianship. This in the long run means that their children may not step up to be the best version of their parents. For instance, how many businessmen are into equipping their children with the business discipline? I can boldly say, they are few which risks the posterity of the wealth built. Therefore, children ought to be prepared for the days to come. 13 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://4H_sexwnb8Z6YlibfJJZnrNyCo4dwVv8PAV0T3pBepQy`i lzԟ׉E10. Leadership It is a devastating thing for parents to live all their livelihood as the only bridge to an already broken family just awaiting for their departure so as rekindle the former bitterness, hatred’s and unfinished wars. Parents should try as much as possible to create a chain of authority in their families, for instance, instil an undisputed voice with a similar finality of decision as theirs. Families with only people but without a leadership are like sheep at the mercy of wolves. In addition to the above, leadership should not be for positional purposes but a service and an accountable role to the people and vice versa. Children should be taught to obey those in authority since all leadership is God given, and with such morals, there is a guarantee for a better future to the children and a great joy to their parents in both their presence and absence. CONCLUSION The blessing of children is a true revelation of God’s love for the people as an extension of their work. In 2012 crossover into 1st January, 2013, there happened a tragedy in our house where my father was involved in a road accident that claimed the lives of three of his friends leaving three of them alive with two incapacitated. 14 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://wlkfROABl9eQSSROxPu8zojF9yPtjITwJ89ZqtgH3es)`i lzԠi lzԟ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://VRAvXAi4g8ZHdhDqhghuzcTkArfEdEfOHj15h4q35hU E`׉ 7cassandra://yCXlnXl_tLqyaZuhHwZ63PBolI3CZsNjmZ1-XtA6-dE`p`s׉ 7cassandra://g9KDSq-SRvXj_gV2-LjUDQczg7nvPLraj2Nor4d6ljc`i lzט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://6bwMiRvxHldTiKX4Xg5_C2lw0LBtjVo80G0uQxUb0yI`׉ 7cassandra://PzxIZ9qjyDamv8jOfALM7c4GIzWVlKXKPcoYzhrdFpE[`s׉ 7cassandra://I5UC8KN4i0Op6OH2oDFnVgNelw-S976ghGdHsohsYr0*`i lzĒנi lz.9׉Hmailto:opalefrank94@gmail.comGׁ ׁ rנi lzȁ9ׁHmailto:opalefrank94@gmail.comׁ ׁ Ј׉ERWe grew up with our Mum and always missed our Dad whom we often engaged with on a phone call since he was always busy with his work which hardly gave him family time. When this accident happened, he says that he kept crying one thing, “my family, my family, my family, …” So emotional it was, as his last born like an angel came walking towards him, he narrates. This caused him to take us (his children) to where he stayed while he worked. We then got to understand how both parents’ love is important in a child’s life. Therefore, it is a divine call for all parents to create time for their families and children. I further call upon all children to dearly love their parents, guardians, sibling’s and all people because, “You will treasure life’s moments the day you understand that life is a journey of flashes” [82nd quote from The 138 Quotes by Opale Frank]. A story told me by my Mum She said that once lived two old women in a village separated by a thick forest. They loved each other and for a long time lived in different homesteads but often visited each other. 15 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://g9KDSq-SRvXj_gV2-LjUDQczg7nvPLraj2Nor4d6ljc`i lzԢ׉E7One day, they suggested to live together due to the distances issues and old age. They shared responsibilities in an alternating manner since there was no one to assist them in their daily house work. After some time, one of them became severely ill, while the other was well. That evening, the sick one slept earlier leaving the other awake. The healthy one left the door open and awoke the ill one to close the door just because it was not her turn to close. They quarrelled about it and chose to just sleep with the door open. Later in the night a lion entered their grass thatched house and pulled out the sick one whose sleeping position was next to the door. As she wailed, the healthy one kept encouraging the lion to eat her because she neglected her duty of closing the door. She however still left the door open just because it was not her turn to close it, this lion after tearing the ill one into pieces, came for this healthy one who was also eaten. What then do you learn from this story? For any info, kindly reach out through: opalefrank94@gmail.com 16 | P a g e ׉ 7cassandra://I5UC8KN4i0Op6OH2oDFnVgNelw-S976ghGdHsohsYr0*`i lzԣi lzԢ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://iMUJn_O5f5gCb8cXIBtZPEuAmDiObdf6WjkCWu7cSOY%`׉ 7cassandra://X-W_w_5wkT3srg37uyIqv9zvHLGmjomqffCkbxVM33QFK`s׉ 7cassandra://0Vql8Boo08fno6OKCIpoHPIW2KYBV7aUOBNRlb8nqdY&`i lz׉E׉ 7cassandra://0Vql8Boo08fno6OKCIpoHPIW2KYBV7aUOBNRlb8nqdY&`i lzԤ׈Ei lzԥi lzԤ(,THE HEN'S CRY by OPALE FRANKIt is a real story how a hen lived until it's death and a typical correlation with how some people live their lives. This book further advises both parents and children on how important it is to have priorities in life. It is an enjoyable book.i)~t