The Gift of Sabbath
Season of Change
by
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“Good morning, Red, good morning, girls, ready for breakfast?” Red and the hens made little effort to move, only shifting a little and fluttering their feathers slightly, as they watched me open the feed barrel and take out their mash with an old coffee can and fill their metal chicken feeder. I shut the feed barrel and opened the next one, which contained the scratch. I scooped out a little into my can, stepped out into the barnyard, and scattered the scratch all over the ground so that when the chickens finally did get out of the bed where they were roosting, they would have some food on the ground to scratch through. They seemed to love that the most. Daddy told me that chickens have to have some food that they eat off the ground because the dirt helps them digest the seeds and grains that we feed them. I am certainly thankful that people are not like chickens. I’ve seen what’s on the ground around the barnyard, and I would never want to eat off of the ground out there! But the chickens seem happy enough, and they faithfully give us nice eggs for breakfast and baking, and that’s what really counts. I made sure their water wasn’t frozen, refilled it, and went back inside the coop for my favorite part—checking for eggs! The chickens hadn’t moved much. They were still just sitting there looking a little lazy. You would think that they’d get used to the routine and just get up and walk away from the eggs they had laid, but they don’t; they sit there until I go take the eggs from them. And this is the fun part. I went to the first chicken and slowly put my hand against her to reach underneath and feel for an egg. “What do you have under there, Henny?” Her eyes got big as she raised her body up part way. Braaaaauuuuuck! Braaauuuck! Brauck! Brauck! Brauck! The silly thing! Her head moved in jerking motions back and forth, and her feet went plop, plop, plop, as she stared down at my hand while making her funny noises. I wasn’t sure if she was going to peck me or not—sometimes the hens would. It didn’t hurt too much. It was funny more than anything and well worth it just to be able to watch how silly they looked and to listen to the squawking. I laughed out loud and purposely gave her a little nudge just to see her eyes get even bigger and to hear her squawk get squeakier. Then I went to the next hen and did the same thing, and then the next one, and so on. Braaaaaaauuuuuuuk! Braaaaaauuuuuuk! Brauk! Brauk! Brauk! They each squawked. I hadn’t taken any of their eggs yet, just so I could go back and tease them again and again. What funny-looking faces they made! I laughed and laughed each time I went to the next chicken. Their googly eyes, funny noises, and silly sounds—and all over one little egg they were setting on! I got a little carried away with teasing the chickens and laughing at their funny faces and noises, and I didn’t hear Daddy open the door until it was too late. “Esther! What is it that you’re doing?” I spun around and immediately did not feel like laughing. Father was standing in the doorway with a stern look on his face. I could see a look of sad disappointment in his eyes. This was not the first time he had caught me teasing the chickens, and I knew I would get only one warning—and that one warning had already happened last week.
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About the Book
The Gift of Sabbath, Season of Change, is a book about life's lessons in virtue and humbleness of heart. Located on the Fortner family farm, the story is told by the youngest member of the Fortner family, little Esther, also known as "Peanut". Five year old Esther shares struggles and victories of her family members and herself, as each individual discovers their own strengths and weaknesses, while holding fast to their faith in Yeshua (Jesus) Messiah. With refreshing innocence and simplicity, Esther enlightens the reader of Daddy and Momma's steadfast faith in Torah as well as Yeshua Messiah, and their unwavering devotion to family and community. Simon and Martha Fortner lovingly guide their family through life's many struggles facing modern day Sabbath keepers, while diligently caring for their neighbors and community. Full of humor and tenderness, you are sure to feel as though you are experiencing first hand, the day-to-day goings on of the seven members of the Fortner family. From the steadfast faith and strength found in Daddy; Momma's hope for her children's future in a lost and hopeless world; Ruth's humbling battles with vanity; Caleb's integrity and humor; Abby's propensity to be late due to her love of reading; Naomi's moody nature; to little Esther's magnetism toward mischief. The Gift of Sabbath, Season of Change, is sure to touch the hearts of all who read the words within it's pages, bringing inspiration and family unity for generations to come. May all who read this heartwarming story of faith, family, and community be inspired to hold fast to the many blessings of innocence and purity, while walking this journey in life that we have all been given, once, to walk.
About the Author
As a child S. Lynn Moore could be found exploring the woods where she grew up in Northern Arizona. She spent countless hours with her horses and various pets, imagining tales of drama and adventure which later became her collection of short stories. In the evenings Lynn's family would enjoy time together listening to Lynn spin tales of adventure and suspense, while vivaciously acting out the scenes she had imagined during the day, bringing laughter and amusement to all who watched and listened. Lynn still lives in Northern Arizona and enjoys life with her husband Joseph, their natural and adopted children as well as their foster children. The Moore family raises a myriad of farm animals including: Cotswold and Shetland sheep, Nubian goats, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Angora rabbits and two much pampered cats named Darius and Maximus. The members of the Moore family are indeed Sabbath keepers and live a life rich in Jewish culture as well as believing in Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah. Joseph and Lynn have a passion for studying biblical history and have traveled to Israel in order to understand and strengthen their faith from a Hebraic perspective. Lynn is a stay at home mom, spending her day’s homeschooling their children, weaving projects from the yarn she has spun out of the fiber harvested off their sheep and rabbits, and gardening in the family's large organic garden. Still, one of Lynn's greatest joys in life is sitting around the fireplace with her children as she spins tales of heroes and noble warriors saving the damsels in distress and conquering new lands! S. Lynn Moore can be reached at thegiftofsabbath@yahoo.com.