In April of 2009 the Dempsey family was grieving the loss of Elizabeth’s mother who had taken her own life. Elizabeth found herself crying out to God (as she always does) for the answers. The Dempseys were also trying their hand at chicken farming by raising six chicks. One of the chickens in the Dempsey’s flock was different from the others. The “special chicken” struggled to live. She had apparently been injured and was suffering from a neurological disorder. In God’s perfect timing, the life of this chicken and the round the clock nurturing that was needed to keep it alive was used as an illustration for Elizabeth to understand how much direct care the Lord gives his own flock. Elizabeth began to realize that the extra care she was giving her special chicken was the same kind of critical care God had been giving her mother and most importantly the kind of care He was now giving her.

God had gifted Elizabeth with the ability to visualize spiritual concepts and he used her chickens as an illustration to reveal lessons about who He is to Elizabeth. Also, the Lord revealed that all of us have our areas in which we are a little “special” and need acute care from Him. Some may operate in their own strength but God uses greatly those who instead of leaning on their own understanding, fully rely on the Lord. Thus the phrase, “I am a Special Chicken” was born.

“I am a Special Chicken” means that I recognize that I have broken places in my life and that I am unable to stand in my own strength and I am fully relying on the Lord to sustain me.

Whilst discussing the illustration of the special chicken Elizabeth’s husband, Scott, decided to purchase the web domain with that name in order to give her a forum to convey the message of hope to other Special Chickens out there.