Julie Lavender

CONSIDER THE HONEYBEE
by Julie Lavender

     

A walk this time of year sometimes gives me the sniffles, but that same pollen that tickles my nostrils is much sought after by many of God’s itty bitty creations.

One of the most fascinating pollen-seekers is the honeybee.

When a honeybee discovers a flower, it attempts to collect and pack as much pollen onto its hind legs as it possibly can before returning to its hive. The pollen and nectar the honeybee collects is used for food for the honeybee colony.

Packing the pollen

In an intriguing fashion, the honeybee bounces and lands and flits onto flowers, and its body becomes covered in pollen. The bee uses its hind legs to wipe and clean its body and it packs the pollen onto the stiff hairs of the back legs.

Honeybees moving from flower to flower are God’s way of pollinating plants, thereby producing fruit.

Once the honeybee returns to the hive, it stuffs the pollen into a ‘cell’ that will be used later as food for new bees.

The nectar is converted into honey and stored for food later in the winter.

Doing the dance

But what I think is especially fascinating about the honeybee is how it communicates with others in the hive. Returning to the hive, the honeybee performs what scientists call a ‘waggle dance’ that tells the other honeybees exactly where the flower is located.

A figure-eight dance means the food is located toward the sun. Rapid movements to the right or left stamp out directions to the nectar treasure.

The speed of the dance tells how far away the yummy treat is.

The flower’s odor on the bee’s body reveals what kind of flower awaits the other pollen-seekers.

I just love the metaphor God showed me about His honeybee.

When a bee returns to the hive after spending time at a flower, it gives off the smell of the flower, letting every honeybee know where it’s been.

"Smelling" like my                    Savior

When I spend time with Jesus, I’m supposed to give off the aroma of Him who saved me. 

“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” 

(2 Corinthians 2:15)

The honeybee gets so excited with its find that it dances its message to others in the hive. Do I get that excited about my find: Jesus? Do I dance with glee and tell others where they can find the precious treasure, too?

A honeybee can’t wait to share what it has found. 

Dear God, please help me be inclined to do the same!!! 

What about you? Do you enjoy this time of year with all its beauty or are you like my husband and sister who, though they can appreciate springtime's magnificent splendor, suffer from major allergy sniffles for days upon days until the rain washes some of the pollen away?

Comment below and share a favorite pollen-laden flower you've encountered on your walk with God this spring. I'd love to hear from you!