If you’ve browsed my website, you may have noticed this little item called The When Chickens Have Teeth Companion and wondered what it is and why would I want it? I noticed that happening when I had my book signing. It is, as the title suggests, a companion guide for my book, When Chickens Have Teeth.
My novel stands alone without the guide, but for children who may have no idea where Haiti is, the companion provides background information that they can read on their own or that parents and homeschoolers can use to learn more about Haiti. It also includes some devotionals that your children will enjoy and hopefully will make them think about their walk with God.
This week I’m providing the first unit of my companion guide so you can get a taste of the type of information children will find. Enjoy my first section.
FAQs
What Year Is It Anyway?
When Chickens Have Teeth is set in the year 2012. That’s probably around the year most of you were born. Man, that makes me feel old.
I set the story in 2012 because that is around the time my brother was traveling to Haiti. As he was one of my sources of information, what I knew about Haiti would fit in with that time period. It also gave me the opportunity to mention the huge earthquake that devastated the southern part of the country in 2010. I mentioned it in my story — do you remember where?
In the last few years the political situation in Haiti has turned deadly. Their president was assassinated, and gangs have taken over the streets of the capitol and many places throughout the country. It’s no longer safe for American missionaries to travel to Haiti. You may remember hearing in May, 2024 that a young missionary couple were kidnapped by a gang and tragically killed. In these conditions the story I had to tell about Frislin and Stefan would have been a much different, perhaps darker, story. So I chose the summer of 2012.
What’s Up With That Title?
I came across the phrase “When Chickens Have Teeth” in a book by Dr. Paul Farmer called Mountains Beyond Mountains. It’s an idiom taken from a French phrase that means something is never, ever going to happen. Frislin used the phrase twice — in chapters 11 and 17.
What is an idiom? (NOT idiot. IDIOM). You probably use idioms every day. They are phrases that don’t make sense if you try to take the words literally. Have your grandparents ever said, “It’s raining cats and dogs”? You know it’s not literally raining cats and dogs, but you know what they mean, right? They could have said it’s raining really hard, but where’s the fun in that?
Here are some other idioms that are popular in America. Do you know what they mean? Have you ever said any of them?
- When pigs fly.
- Don’t hold your breath.
- He was beating around the bush.
- I’m under the weather.
- A penny for your thoughts.
- Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
For my readers who speak a language other than English, does your native tongue have any examples of idioms?
So – What Do You Think?
DO chickens have teeth?
Fun fact: while most birds, including chickens, don’t have teeth, scientists admit that every now and then teeth appear.
Learn More: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2006/feb/23/research.highereducation https://www.ef.edu/blog/language/20-english-idioms-that-everyone-should-know/
Never Say Never
A Devotional
In When Chickens Have Teeth Frislin uses that phrase to tell Wilien he and Stefan will never, ever be friends .
How did that work out for him? I don’t want to give away any spoilers in case some of you haven’t finished the book yet, but if you have finished the book, you know the answer to that question.
Have your parents ever said to you, “Never say never”?
As you grow older you’ll learn there’s some wisdom in that saying.
For instance I ate my first taco when I was in college. I hated it, and said I’ll never eat one of those things again.
There’s that word again – never. Today tacos are one of my favorite things.
That’s a rather frivolous, example. But in my life I have seen evidence that the Lord has an ironic sense of humor.
Irony – something that happens that seems to be the exact opposite of what one might expect.
The biggest irony of my life happened in 2008. When my brother and his family moved from our farm in Pennsylvania to live in Georgia, my friends and family were curious what my mom and I were going to do.
“When are you moving to Georgia?”
If only I had a dollar for every time I heard that question!
I always gave the same answer: “NEVER!”
Right. Never.
If you’ve read my bio you know that I now live in Georgia.
It took 17 years, but eventually the Lord showed me I was spinning my wheels trying to take care of our little farm by myself. I was clinging to the home and the land where I had lived all my life. At last I realized I needed to let go, just as Frislin had to let go of his anger towards Stefan.
Moving wasn’t easy. Starting over in a new community wasn’t easy. But I can say with confidence I am living in the center of God’s will. I’m where He wants me to be and doing what He wants me to do. I slip sometimes, but He’s always ready and willing to forgive and set me back on the path.
Remember:
The only thing you should ever say “never” to is sin.
Let the rest of your life be open to the Lord’s leading.
Today’s Bible Reading: Romans 12:1-2 Want brownie points? Read the whole Chapter!!