We are going to begin to share chapters of our next book. The illustrations will be in sepia tones here online, but the full color versions will be used when the book is published. We are excited about this particular book because it explores a question that Pearl spent a great deal of time pondering: “Are there Guardian Angels for chickens?” Unlike other books that Pearl and I have worked on together, it will be presented as “a Study” rather than “a Novel” or a “Story Collection,” or “Devotional.”

Pearl always tried her best to think the thoughts of The Great Gardener whenever she had deep questions to ponder.

Pearl wanted to know if there were Guardian Angels for chickens. That seemed like something that only The Great Gardener would know since there was nothing in The Ancient Words about Guardian Angels for chickens, only for people like children. If there were, He would know since He would have created them.

She remembered “Be careful that you do not look down on one of these little ones because I’m telling you that in heaven, their angels are always beholding the face of The Great Gardener.” (Matt. 18:10)

She thought about how baby chicks can be considered “little ones,” but Jesus had called a child to himself and not a chicken before he said these words.

But she also remembered “Who knows someone else’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? Likewise, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Cor. 2:11) So she did a “What if…?”

Her questions would be “What if there was a commandment for chickens to follow like people have commandments to follow?” Chickens would need a Guardian Angel if there were rules that God expected chickens to follow.

As Pearl told me once, “It’s hard for a little kid or little chick to do as they are told because they get told so much.” Was this the case for chickens? “What if there was a commandment for chickens?”

Pearl’s Chicken Wisdom for Today: Instead of saying “There is no God,” how about turning that into a “What if…?” question just as Pearl did? Yours could be “What if there is no God?” or “What if the next election doesn’t turn out the way I want it to?” In other words, don’t just take what you’ve heard other people say—reason it through even if you have to use a whole series of “What if…?” questions.