My younger sister Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. She underwent a lumpectomy followed by radiation and, by God’s grace, continued on. Then, at age fifty-two, she received the news no one wants to hear—the cancer had returned. This time, the path forward led to a double mastectomy.
Nancy and I share a remarkable cousin named Donna. She is in her mid-sixties and is one of the wisest, kindest, most loving people we have ever known. Donna and her husband, Wesley, serve as missionaries in Ecuador, where they run an orphanage in the jungle, raising abandoned boys who once lived on the streets of Quito. Their lives are poured out daily in quiet faithfulness, sacrifice, and love.
When Donna heard about Nancy’s diagnosis, she sent her a note. What she wrote was so unexpected, so tender, and so full of truth that it still makes me smile—and think—every time I read it.
Donna wrote:
“Hi Nancy, I was thinking of you and feeling deeply for you this morning, and I decided to tell you a story.
Upon returning to Ecuador from the States earlier this month, as we approached our residence, we found thirty-two bags of chicken poop placed by the gate. Believe it or not…it was a gift. It was some of the nicest chicken poop I have found since living here. It was well aged, so it didn’t have that terrible stink and didn’t attract many flies. How nice.
Why in the world would this be a nice gift? Well, we have many mandarin orange trees, and they were not doing very well. Some were even dying. The oranges were small and not very tasty. Wesley had been talking to some friends about this, and they told him that chicken poop was the answer. These bags don’t usually come for free and probably cost over a dollar a bag, so what a thoughtful gift to find when we returned.
Wesley spread the chicken poop around all the orange trees, and I assumed we wouldn’t see any change until the next crop. But that wasn’t true at all. Even though the oranges were already on the trees and ripening, within just three weeks they became larger and better. The branches are now heavy with fruit.
Why was I thinking about this and you at the same time? Please don’t take it personally except for this: when I think about what has happened to one of my most favorite people in the world, I feel like you were dealt some chicken poop. But just as those oranges became something beautiful, I pray the outcome of your trial becomes something better and greater than you could ever imagine.
Trials are so difficult to endure, but Jesus—our Savior, Creator, and never-failing Friend—truly does make all things work together for good. Not only for us, but He also demonstrates His faithfulness to the many who observe our trials. I pray the Lord will continue to heal you, keep you pain-free, and help you adjust to these changes. Your family is close to my heart and in my prayers.”
Isn’t that just great?
I laughed out loud when I read it—thinking about the Lord needing to spread chicken poop around my feet to make me more fruitful. But as funny as it sounds, Donna is exactly right.
Our loving Father never allows difficulties to come into our lives unless He intends to use them for our good. What feels unwanted, unfair, and downright unpleasant in the moment can become the very thing that produces deeper faith, stronger character, and richer spiritual fruit. Growth often comes through what we would never choose for ourselves.
I know I could use more of that kind of fruit. How about you?
So…bring on the chicken poop.
James 5:11 (NKJV) “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”
