--- title: Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? description: Kimberly Nettuno shares how she encountered understanding of God's gift of freedom in an unexpected way -- and the love flowing from this divine gift. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/07/07/chicken-cross-road#) # Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? Jul 7, 2017 11:30:47 AM  |  by [Kimberly Nettuno](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/kimberly-nettuno) > [!["Why did the chicken cross the road?" by Kimberly Nettuno (CatholicMom.com)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/why-did-the-chicken-cross-the-road.jpg?width=800&height=533&name=why-did-the-chicken-cross-the-road.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/why-did-the-chicken-cross-the-road.jpg) Via [freeimages.com]( http://www.freeimages.com/photo/hen-kura-1342837), PD > > > > ### *To teach this farmer a lesson about God's loving embrace - the gift of freedom. * My husband and I, along with our children, live on a farm where we raise and care for horses, goats, Maremma Sheepdogs, a few furry senior citizens, and chickens. And it the tiniest of these creatures, in the most difficult of places, where I encountered God's understanding of freedom. As an abused child, freedom is a word that has only ever created misunderstanding -- even anger. Where is freedom among the beaten, dirty secrets that linger in the darkness? It waits in the shattered silence. I realize this poem's spark flickered in a way you'd least expect to encounter light, but isn't that the beautiful nature of our Lord? It is in the natural happenings of life where he leaves a glimmer of understanding for you to carry forward - the light of Christ shedding upon darkness. [tweet "In the natural happenings of life, God leaves a glimmer of understanding for you -@BecomingSound"] On our farm, all of our animals are free to move about the pastures - they are "free-range." Now this can come with consequences for the smallest of them, and for this particular hen freedom meant death. In the spring, the hawks nest in the thick puzzle of branches that hover above our creeks. And, they do manage to kill a hen or two for their growing families. This is not a happy encounter for the farmer, and truthfully I probably need to seek reconciliation for my immediate reactions upon finding the kill. The choice words that are screamed back up into the overlying thicket are not as majestic as the fleeing predator for sure. That is, until this last attack. We count our chickens as they march into their coop in the evening for feeding, and this particular day, we were one short. I immediately knew why; although, honestly, you always hope you're wrong. I took my companions, Ennio and Evelina (two large Maremma Sheepdogs) with me to find her. It doesn't take long when two snoots hit the ground! She was lying by the creek. The scene was a bit serene -- as you could see clearly what happened. She had been leaning down to drink from one of the crystal-clear, cold creeks that run through our pastures. She never saw the hawk coming, as he was most likely waiting in the branches above. I've seen this many times -- the hawk waits -- then pounces with great force and talons the size of your fingers. The anger that accompanies this encounter was absent -- what took its place is this poem: --- Why* did the hen* *cross the road?* *To remind a broken farmer* *of the love the Lord shows.* *You see freedom provided* *has often proved a burden --* *a curse upon a soul!* *Why is such a gift even granted* *to one who abuses its true roll?*   *Freedom doomed to another* *can become a prison --* *love has no comfort* *for the unreasonable and forbidden!* *I've left behind Your sweet love* *unable to recognize --* *sometimes it is beyond another's choices* *where freedom truly lies.  *   *Now I am a farmer* *with this sweet hen --* *who died by the creekside* *to feed a predator's kin.* *And down by that *creekside *instead of weeping --* *I smiled;* *for an encounter with understanding* *had been waiting all the while.* * * *It is in the freedom* *provided to faithful flock;* *knowing risk accompanies * *this gifted walk.* *But, because of said love,* *it is all I could provide --* *the freedom to live* *even if that means -- * *die.*   *So, why did that hen* *cross that road?* *To remind a child of God * *freedom is steeped best in woe.* *And, beyond the hurt* *accompanying gifted walk --* *are tears of love in a creekside* *as God gently sends forth His hawk. * --- *Copyright 2017 Kimberly Nettuno* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F07%2F07%2Fchicken-cross-road%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F07%2F07%2Fchicken-cross-road%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F07%2F07%2Fchicken-cross-road%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Why%20Did%20the%20Chicken%20Cross%20the%20Road%3F) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F07%2F07%2Fchicken-cross-road%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F07%2F07%2Fchicken-cross-road%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![CatholicMom Logo](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/favicon-catholicmom.png) ### [Kimberly Nettuno](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/kimberly-nettuno) Kimberly Nettuno posts her poetry and reflections at [www.becomingsound.me](http://www.becomingsound.me). When not writing, she enjoys working on her farm in North Georgia where she makes certified organic goodies for her critters and the surrounding, local farms. She shares this life with her husband, three home-schooled daughters, two dogs, two cats, three horses, eight goats, some two dozen chickens, and thousands of bees. ## Related Blog Articles [ Awaken: be nourished Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/02/02/awaken-be-nourished/) [ When Life Gives You Graham Crackers ... Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/08/02/when-life-gives-you-graham-crackers/) [ To Be A Witness Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/04/07/to-be-a-witness) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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