Flowers Don't Chase Bees

A parable type story that seeks communicate the lesson that we as women can learn to be as we are and wait to be sought in a manner that does not compromise our strength, yet maintains our femininity.

I woke up one morning, like any other normal person. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, the sky was a gorgeous blue with puffy clouds making their way around the world and the world was at peace. This was my kind of day. I stretched, got out of bed, and stuck my feet into my fluffy green slippers (made to resemble Mike from “Monsters Inc.”) I was positive today would be a very good day. I pulled my hair into a pony tail with a head band holding stray hairs in place and made my way to the kitchen where my coffee waited. After pouring myself a delicious cup, I grabbed my Bible and stepped out onto my porch. And why wouldn’t I? A beautiful morning like this could not be wasted! So I would spend it outside! And that is when everything went wrong.

Before I tell you what happened, let me tell you what my yard is like. It’s got a lot of flowers. I mean a lot of flowers. There are bushes and vines and beds and trellises and everything everywhere!

Let’s just say, when I’m not teaching, I’m working outside. That’s just the way things go.

Now, I need you to get a very clear picture in your mind as you answer this question: how do plants behave? Seriously, think about it. How do plants behave? Because last I checked, they stay where they are put. Period. Keep that in your mind, because that’s what I thought was truth until a bee almost ran right into my face. I ducked out of the way of this crazed bee. Bees don’t fly like that. I turned my head and saw a rose come flying over the porch running on its roots and using its stems and leaves as arms and hands leaving a line of dirt in its wake.

Are you as stunned as me? Ha! Not even close! My knockout bushes were wading through my grass going after a flock of hummingbirds (yes, I lived in an area where they were prevalent, so I had humming bird feeders. Now I felt sorry about it!) Those hummingbirds were flying as fast as their little wings could carry them!

Get what I’m trying to tell you? I’ll put it one sentence: my plants were making it their personal duty to go after bees, butterflies, and humming birds!

I put my hand to my forehead, unsure as to whether I was still awake or not. I looked up and found on one of the tree branches a line of hummingbirds, frightened looks on each poor face! I then found a great amount of gratitude that the trees hadn’t decided to play stupid!

Six daffodils were chasing after three bees in circles around my table. Immediately I grabbed around their…uh…waists? They attempted to keep running. This was insanity!

“ALL RIGHT!” I yelled, hoping talking to my vegetation would work.

Nope, they were just running faster it seemed! I knew there was only one thing to do. I climbed onto the table just as a pansy hopped across my feet. I scooped it up and held it tight in my fist.

“KNOCK IT OFF, Y’ALL!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

Everybody paused. They all stared at me (or at least…I think they did). I was frustrated.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

The tulips started slowly sliding back to their bed.

“NO!” I yelled at them. “Don’t even move one more…uh…root.”

I nodded.

“Don’t pretend you’re not a part of this! What are you trying to do?!”

I looked at them all perplexed.

“Guys, really,” I put my wriggling daffodils and pansy onto the table. “Flowers do not chase bees and butterflies and hummingbirds and any other pollinator. Honest!”

I persuaded them as they looked at each other.

“God designed you not to go chasing after them. He wanted you to stay seated, look your pretty selves, be your pretty selves and wait!”

They started getting back to their original places.

“The hummingbirds don’t like being attacked,” I said to the peonies at the bottom of the deck.

The hummingbirds exchanged nervous glances. I shrugged.

“I have no clue what they were thinking.”

Things were looking cleaner. I went into the yard in my slippers and kicked a little grass back into place. Nothing looked the way it had, but it would get fixed, no problem.

“Were you getting tired of waiting for the right one to come along?” I asked a drooping azalea.

It nodded it’s pretty head. I sighed.

“God’s got a plan, you know?”

It nodded again.

“In time, you just be patient!”

I stood up and looked around.

“All of you! Be patient! God’s got plans for you all, okay?”

They all froze into place, the way I had left them the night before.

I picked up my coffee and stepped off the table.

“Better stay that way,” I muttered.