Today I was reminded of just how unpredictable life can be. We went on a home visit to bring food to a widow in the area. Seeing her is always a highlight in the life of our family! As we are unloading the sacks of beans, rice and corn meal from the back of the vehicle there is a commotion going on at the side of the verandah in front of her house. A very pregnant young lady seems to be plucking feathers off of a chicken, and the chicken is NOT at all happy about this! I can see as I approach the verandah that the chicken has its legs tied together. I assume that this is the start of a very special dinner on this homestead.
We sit down on the straw mats rolled out for us and begin to visit with Gogo. Her eyes are bright as she starts rapidly talking in SiSwati. Suddenly, the young pregnant woman sets the partially plucked; leg bound chicken on Gogo’s lap. Gogo’s smile widens and her voice grows louder as she communicates her message to our ministry partner to translate. His face brightens, and he lets out a low laugh as her intentions become clear to him. The chicken is a gift; Gogo’s gift to us! Her grand daughter was plucking the chicken to cook for dinner when they saw our car driving down the dirt road. That is when Gogo instructed the granddaughter to tie the bird’s feet together because they were going to give it to us. Meat is valuable here in the rural part of Swaziland. Most homesteads never eat meat unless it is a special occasion or a holiday, yet, she decided to give us her chicken. Everything inside of me was protesting: “but, this is too much…this chicken is much more precious to you…I buy my chicken at the store…what the heck am I going to do with a live chicken??” Yet…I know I can not refuse this offering. This is an extravagant expression of generosity! It means everything to her; therefore it means everything to me. I clumsily receive the bird into my hands, wings flapping; and try to show my gratitude – minus the awkwardness of attempting to wrestle a live chicken wanting nothing to do with me! Claire, my animal loving daughter, quickly comes to my aid and accepts the chicken into her hands… already scheming how to name it and keep it as a family pet!
Returning my attention to Gogo, I ask how she has been doing since I last saw her.
Her face becomes serious as she begins to speak rapidly in SiSwati. I take a deep breath and nod my head, waiting to receive the translation from the ministry partner by my side. As he relays Gogo’s words, my heart quickens and my stomach drops. Last weekend, Gogo’s teenage grandson broke into her house in a drunken rage. He was trying to sexually attack the two grand daughter’s that live with her. Gogo fought him off with a bush knife and the two girls escaped out the window. The police were called and the grandson is now in prison. Gogo is heartbroken that something so sinister and dark occurred within her family. She says: “it was the demon, alcohol, that attacked my family”.
I asked her if she was physically hurt in the attack and she kind of smirks and holds up her arm. “I am strong” she says through the translator, “God is stronger”.
So tonight…there is a very confused chicken in my yard and also a very confused heart within me. How do women like this Gogo do it? How do they continue on with grace and generosity even in the face of such evil and depravity?
Oh God…give me even a portion of her strength…even a fraction of her faith…teach me to love like she loves and forgive like she forgives, give like she gives…
Oh, and P.S. Lord, help me do right by this poor chicken…
