The Lesson of the Honeybee

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3, 4 (NIV)

Have you ever stopped and watched a honeybee? I find them fascinating. I also have had a little closer look at them than most since my husband keeps several hives of bees in the far back corner of our yard. I have helped him care for them on occasion and as I watch them work and dance and just rest it occurs to me that God knows each one of those little creatures. He knows which ones are lazy and which ones are working their little tails off to get that pollen into the comb. He knows which ones are caring for the babies and which ones are guarding the hive. He knows each of those bees individually (I almost said "by name" but I do not actually know that). If He takes the time to know each of my honeybees, how much more care does He take with me, someone created in His own image? How much more concern and love does He shower me with?

In Psalm 8, David talks about the very same thing. He looks at the sky and sees the heavenly bodies and it amazes him that the God who made such incredible beauty should be concerned with him. The God who set the moon and the stars in place is mindful of people, of each individual person, of David himself. And the God of the universe is mindful of me. That just blows my mind. He who cares for my bees by giving them flowers for pollen, dew for water, and providing them with a queen to continue their species, knows me. If He cares for the bees like that, creatures that are here today and gone tomorrow, how much more does He care for me?

Why in the world do I go through my days worrying about things that might happen? Why do I spend my time frantic about daily finances or college scholarships or medical problems when the Creator of heaven and earth knows me personally and cares deeply about what happens to me? I do not know. Maybe because I am very forgetful and have to be reminded over and over again to just quit worrying about life and trust Him. And since God cares for me so much and is aware of my forgetfulness problem, He sends me little reminders like my honeybees to let me know how important I really am to Him.

God, You are awesome. You are constantly reminding me how much You love me. Please forgive me for forgetting. Thank you for never giving up on me and for continuing to send little reminders to help me remember You are there and that You will always be there to take care of me.

Janine Miller