In Real Life - Don't Let a Bee Ruin Your Day

           The smallest thing can cause fear in my life, how about yours? I will shamefully and honestly admit to you I am afraid of one of natures smallest creatures, the bee. It finds me wherever we go, and whatever month we go in. It seems to tease me, whizzing by my head or chasing me down a trail. Oh no, really chasing me down a trail, just ask my kids they have watched me run. It's a very good way to get exercise, but not a great image builder. My youngest son knows my fear, he often says, " Mom, watch out a bee!" Then when I jump, duck, or take cover. He laughs at me saying, " Just kidding mom, geez!" The most embarrassing though is when I am in adult company. I have covered my head, jolted to the right or left, and the worst made a fast mad dash in the opposite direction. People are gracious yes, but I know they are thinking, " What is this weird lady doing?"
            We were taking the most beautiful hike along Hopi Indian ruins last weekend. The weather was perfect, and we as a family were laughing, taking in the sights and enjoying one another.We were half way through the trail when my daughter turned around, looked at me and said, " Now mom, I just want you to know, I saw a bee back there. Don't freak out okay mom and start running. It is steep here and you will fall right off this cliff !" Her comment made me laugh. Boy did she know me, and know me well. She knows my silly fear is a yellow and black striped, fuzzy bug with wings. I have to admit I was just a little more on guard during our beautiful hike though. But I have been learning to not let it control me. Go ahead and laugh, they all do !
             My husband often reminds me when I am looking at flowers to plant in the spring or lovely rose bushes, " You know bee's love those , don't you honey? Are you sure you want to plant that?' Yet I purchase it anyway and I plant overcoming my fears a little more. Accepting there will be bee's and telling myself again, " Learn to live with it girl, they aren't goin anywhere !" I kept hiking that day too with my family, reminding myself it is just a bee, a little bee. I am not going to let it ruin my hike, my beautiful day.Really running was not an option anyway, it would be fatal on the trail we were at. Such a small thing can hinder us , if we make it a giant fear in our lives. Fear can ruin the beauty right in front of us, or the beautiful work that God is trying to do in us.
            Wherever I go in this life there will be bee's. Yes those tiny little things that buzz around my head and make me want to run and scream. But has my greatest fear ever stung me, nope. I am simply afraid of the possibility of getting stung by one. I could avoid them by never stepping out, by never taking a hike, or enjoying a picnic, by never camping. But that is not life. Fear in the same way can hinder me, from enjoying the beauty God has planned in our lives. I can say, " Oh not there God. There might be this, there might be that, there might be a fierce, dreaded, monstrous bee, that is out to sting me!"
                God has things for us to enjoy . Beautiful things and opportunities, but fear will always be buzzing around the opportunities he brings. Thoughts like,"What if I get rejected, what if this doesn't work, what if no one likes me, what if I'm no good, I can't do that",  and on and on. Fear is a killer to beauty. I had a choice on our hike that day. To let the bee ruin my hike. Or to just simply acknowledge one will be on every hike,( even in February I am not safe :) and fear will be in every opportunity, every new step I take with the Lord, ever new trail he leads me on. There are things to be afraid of in Real Life, but I pray I do not let it stop me from beauty.The beauty God has planned for us to enjoy.
               I love how my husband handles my fear, the bee. On picnics and camping he simply flicks the bee that won't leave me alone. With one quick, flick of his fingers, it is dead. I jokingly call him," my hero!" in those moments. But God is even more powerful when it comes to our fears, here are some scriptures He gives to remind us that fear is not bigger than Him.




Psalm 23:4- Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me
Psalm 27:1 -The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 118:6-The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
2 Timothy 1:7-For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Deuteronomy 31:6- Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

                I hope one of those scriptures encouraged you. Might I just encourage you to go look up the many more that are available to you in scripture.

Don't let a bee ruin your day. Don't let fear ruin that next step with God. That next adventure he has called you to, or that next challenging step he has asked you to take. There will be bee's, they will buzz, whiz by you, taunt you and even swing their little stingers at you. Even if it stings you remember, it won't kill you. Enjoy the view, the view God has given and don't let the fear of a little bee ruin your day !