BEE KIND, ALWAYS

 My friend is a beekeeper, and today I visited him to see the honey he had harvested from his hives. As he opened a large bucket brimming with golden honey, we noticed three little bees struggling on the surface. They were trapped, covered in sticky honey, and slowly drowning. I asked if we could save them, but he doubted their chances of survival, seeing them as casualties of honey collection.

Still, I couldn’t let them suffer without trying to help. After some persuasion, he gently scooped the bees out and placed them in an empty yogurt container, which we left outside. The hive was already buzzing with activity from the disruption of the honey harvest, and soon, other bees found the struggling trio.

What we witnessed next was nothing short of miraculous. The other bees surrounded their sticky, nearly lifeless sisters and began to clean them, meticulously removing every trace of honey from their tiny bodies. When we checked again later, only one bee remained in the container, still being cared for by her diligent companions. By the time I left, all three bees had been freed from their sticky trap, strong enough to fly away, leaving the container empty.

These bees survived because they were surrounded by family and friends who refused to abandon them in their time of need. Their community rallied around them, working tirelessly to save them from drowning in their own struggle.

From these little bees, we learn a powerful lesson: In times of difficulty, it’s the support and care of those around us that can make all the difference. We all have the power to lift each other up, to clean away the stickiness of life’s challenges, and to help one another find the strength to fly again.

Be kind. Always.