Another lesson from the hive: so many bees!
Hive inspections are both amazing and anxiety-producing and yet, they are one of the best parts of beekeeping.
Inspecting the hive means opening it up, pulling out frames loaded with thousands of bees, looking for pests, and sometimes catching a glimpse of the queen. When we did our most recent inspection, we could hardly believe the number of bees we have!
We started with about 10,000 bees in one small package box, proudly riding home from the beekeeping store, bees in the back, buzzing away, we the proud parents.
Our bees have continued to multiply exponentially, as bees do. We’ve now added two more eight-frame boxes, including one specifically for honey.
On this particular night, before we went out to feed the bees (yes, we feed our 40,000 winged children), Steven and I were discussing how we’re beginning to feel a little overwhelmed with the sheer number of them when we open the hive.
Our constant concern is that each hive has only one queen living among thousands of bees, and there’s always the possibility that we might unknowingly harm her during an inspection.
Seasoned beekeepers tell us that when we move things in the hive, a few bees may accidentally be squashed; that’s just part of beekeeping. And despite our best efforts, we’ve found this to be the case - but we still mourn over each lost one.
The fact remains that, after only five months, we are VERY inexperienced beekeepers and we are forever making mistakes.
And here’s the reality: if we were to unknowingly harm the queen, the whole hive could fail.
But let’s face it, if this tragedy did come to pass, we still might be able to save the hive. And even if we couldn’t, worldwide beekeeping would not collapse because of our mistake. Still…
Do you struggle like I do with anxiety about making mistakes?
I catch myself believing that a mistake just might be the end of modern civilization. Have you ever felt that way?
All of us make mistakes - it’s simply part of being human. And Jesus knows this about us. He’s not standing in wait, eager for a chance to make us feel like failures.
Instead, He’s always ready and waiting to forgive.
We are told in Luke 5:
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”
(v.30-31 NIV)
I am in need of this mistake-pardoning, sin-forgiving doctor: my Savior, Jesus.
He is our shepherd and we are His sheep.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:11 NIV
He loves us so much that He died for me and for you to save us from all of our mistakes and failures.
So if you’re prone to allow negative thinking to rule your mind or anxiety about mistakes to overshadow your life, take a breath and a break and talk to Jesus about it.
Rest assured that He is right there listening to you, loving you in spite of the mistakes.
He never turns away.
Mistakes are welcomed opportunities for Him to heal your life.
Today is a GOOD day!
~ Natalie