It’s been confirmed … we have a rooster! For the past three or four months we thought we had a rooster … but it wasn’t until he crowed that we knew for sure. Now every morning as the sun begins to rise, Rooster begins crowing, “Cock-a-doodle-doo”. But don’t think that Rooster started off “Cock-a-doodle-doo-ing” on his first attempt … because he didn’t. He needed some help. And according to my daughter Joy, it was her husband (my son-in-law) who helped Rooster fine-tune the sound of his crow.
Joy said, “Mama, Curtis helping Rooster crow was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen or heard. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears … I wouldn’t believe what I’m about to tell you.
“When Rooster first started crowing all he could crow was ‘Cock-a’ and that was it. There was no ‘doodle-doo’ … just a ‘Cock-a’. Curtis was clearing the ditch bank next to the chicken coop, and I was cleaning my car out, when we heard Rooster’s first attempts at crowing. Bless Rooster’s heart, he ruffled his feathers, thrust his chest out, and gave it all he had … but still, the only sound that came out of him was a weak-sounding and incomplete ‘Cock-a’. After listening to Rooster for a couple of minutes I started back cleaning out my car. I thought Curtis had resumed clearing the ditch bank until I heard him say, ‘Come on little buddy. You can do it. Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo!’
“ I looked toward the chicken coop and saw Curtis with his chest thrust out, flapping his arms like wings … and crowing … ‘Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo!’ He’d flap and crow for a few seconds and then he’d say ‘Come on Rooster, it’s your time. You can do it little buddy. Cock-a-doodle-doo!’ Each time Curtis would say Cock-a-doodle-doo Rooster would scratch the ground with his little feet, ruffle his feathers, thrust his chest out, open his mouth, and crow another weak-sounding and incomplete ‘Cock-a’. Bless his little heart.”
Readers, although Rooster’s crowing had an insecure and inexperienced sound to it … he refused to be intimidated into silence. Rooster was born to crow, and nothing was going to stop him from doing what he was born to do. Determined that no one was going to call him chicken … Rooster continued crowing to the best of his ability. And his persistence paid off … for two weeks later Rooster was crowing perfect-sounding Cock-a-doodle-doos!
Now, I’m going to ask a personal question. Are you a Christian? Have you invited Jesus Christ into your heart as your Savior and Lord? If your answer is yes, you’ve been born-again. Here’s a follow-up question. Are you doing what you were born-again to do? Or are you afraid to be
identified with Jesus? Honestly, I think we’re all a little afraid when we first begin telling others about Jesus. In the Bible we read that Peter once denied knowing Jesus because he was afraid of being identified as one of his disciples. However, Peter’s story didn’t end there for he ended up sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to great multitudes. Neither has your story ended. So use the rest of your life wisely and begin ‘crowing’ about Jesus to those you know. In the long run you’ll be glad you did. And so will those who gave their heart to Jesus because you cared enough to crow.
Peter declared to Him, Though they all are offended and stumble and fall away because of You [and distrust and desert You], I will never do so.
Jesus said to him, Solemnly I declare to you, this very night, before a single rooster crows, you will deny and disown Me three times.
Peter said to Him, Even if I must die with You, I will not deny or disown You! And all the disciples said the same thing.—Matthew 26:33-35; AMP
But Peter followed Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest’s home; he even went inside and sat with the guards to see the end.—Matthew 26:58; AMP
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and one maid came up to him and said, You were also with Jesus the Galilean!
But he denied it falsely before them all, saying, I do not know what you mean.
And when he had gone out to the porch, another maid saw him, and she said to the bystanders, This fellow was with Jesus the Nazarene!
And again he denied it and disowned Him with an oath, saying, I do not know the Man!
After a little while, the bystanders came up and said to Peter, You certainly are one of them too, for even your accent betrays you.
Then Peter began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, I do not even know the Man! And at that moment a rooster crowed.
And Peter remembered Jesus’ words, when He had said, “Before a single rooster crows, you will deny and disown Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.—Matthew 26: 69-75; AMP