THE STING
About three or four years ago we learned another lesson of life. “What are you doin’ Babe”? I asked in an anxious voice. “I’m saving his life”! she answered thoughtfully. “You’re gonna get stung”! I said, surprised by my little one’s bravery. “No”! – “I’ve saved lots of them”! she added with confidence.
“Okay”! – “Don’t be surprised if that bee stings you”! I added, watching with interest. She scooped the bee out of the pool with just her hands. Sure enough, she rescued another bee. In fact, she went for the better part of a whole summer rescuing bees from the swimming pool.
I’d never seen anything like it; if I would have tried, the first one would have sunk its stinger in me for sure. I’ve been stung by enough bees in my life to know it’s not a pleasant experience.
It was in the late summer and long afternoon when my daughter approached me with heavy tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong Babe”?! I asked. She was trying to fight back the tears and softly said with a quivering voice and lip, with the tone of question and injustice, “He bit me”! – “What bit you “? I asked. She answered through a full cry, “THE BEE BIT ME”!!!
I’d never seen a person handle bees and let them crawl on them like my little one did. “I’m sorry Babe”! I said with sadness, then added, “You knew that was a risk didn’t you”? “Yeah”! – “But I saved his life”! she said through tears, echoing the question and injustice, ย then added, “It really hurts”! “I know it does Babe,” I answered. I could see she was hurting as much from the heartbreak as she was the bee sting.
The innocence and trust were lost… not just for the day, but for the rest of her life. She had to learn the nature of things on this earth. It didn’t matter how pure her heart was and genuine her intention, it couldn’t change the nature of things in this fallen world.
As much as I didn’t want her to get stung, I knew she was so adamant about her nature she thought could overcome the bee’s. It’s unfortunate for us we live in a fallen world, but that won’t be changing until its due time.
In the meantime, there is pain. Pain on the outside or the inside leaves its mark on our lives. Whether, by an insect, animal, or human, we remember well… “Once bitten twice shy,” sums it up pretty well.
As painful as things can be on the outside, sometimes the biggest “stings” are on the inside. A person doesn’t have to live too long to understand what “getting burned” means. When there is an understanding or expectation that is broken or doesn’t get met, the memory of it lasts far longer, and usually causes more emotional pain than a bite or bee sting.
Trusting in a person who can communicate love or intention burns longer into our lives and is usually carried around like baggage the rest of our lives. To understand the fallen nature of mankind in our lives can help, but it seems too often it turns into straight cynicism that ends up doing as much damage a the betrayal itself.
I don’t think there are any of us who won’t let someone else down in our life in one form or another. While we strive to love like God, our trust is first in Him, not other humans, who like us will disappoint and sting even the ones we love from time to time.
It took some time, but I did see my daughter rescue other bees the next year. She has now gained wisdom the hard way, she uses leaves or sticks to rescue the very things she knows might seek to harm her.
I guess other humans are a bit like those bees. They can be cruel and even deadly, yet God calls us to rescue them…because until they know Him, they don’t know any better. The only way that might happen is us reaching out…
Putting ourselves at risk… even if it means we might get the sting every once in awhile…
bill (cycleguy)
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 2:25 am
Great thought today floyd! WOW! What a lesson for your daughter to learn. What a lesson we all have to learn. As adults, you and I know there will be times we will get stung. Some are honey bee stings. But some are wasp stings or hornet stings. But love, trust and risk all involve the possibility of getting hurt. I prefer to take the chance to get hurt than to not risk at all.
Floyd
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 6:58 am
Thanks Bill, as much as I struggle with the “stinging” part, I can’t help but follow the heart of the One who calls the shots.
Jason Stasyszen
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 11:48 am
Floyd, I’ve been stung many times and it feels awful. There have been many times in trying to love people that I thought, “that’s it. I’m done with this.” But the heart of God doesn’t change and I come back to His love and presence because I know I need it. I also realize that God feels the sting of rejection and betrayal millions of times a day and keeps on loving. The standard is not my feeling, but what He’s already done for us. Good stuff–thank you.
Floyd
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 2:57 pm
Thanks Jason, that’s an excellent point. I can’t even imagine the times our Lord is disappointed. I can imagine me x the world… Incalculable for me…
Chuck Allen
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 4:14 pm
Wow. That was such a sad tale. I can imagine her heartbreak that the bee would do such a thing to its rescuer. And your right, our task is to get involved in people’s lives even at the risk of being stung.
(Awesome post, Floyd.)
Floyd
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 6:09 pm
Thanks Chuck. Yeah, the stings are inevitable for sure.
Hazel
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 7:05 pm
At least the rescue desire in your daughter was still alive, only the next year, she found another way to do the saving that kept her from being stung. Getting stung happens to all of us at one time or another, and we use caution the next time we want to trust. I like that you pointed out that there are times we are the ones doing the stinging. Ouch — that does hurt. I will say that perhaps our hurting someone is unintentional, and the person must understand that we did not purposefully hurt them (at least I hope it was not on purpose.)
Floyd
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 9:21 pm
You bring up a valid point Hazel. So often we hurt others and don’t even know we have. We don’t mean to sting, but we do regardless. As I get older the hurt that I realize I’ve inflicted on others is crushing to my soul.
Voni Harris
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 7:06 pm
Aww, poor girl. Excellent life lesson. Excellent metaphor. Trust is such a fragile thing. Sin stings.
Tough to see our kids earn the sadder-but-wiser kind of wisdom.
Floyd
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 9:22 pm
I agree Voni, but I’m not sure how you summarized the whole thing with such complete clarity? Wow… What a gift. Thank you.
Nancy
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 1:14 am
I was listening to a pastor tell about a group of dissidents who came into his church, interrupted the service and made a mess of the place. They had cued the newspaper whose reporters were on hand for the show. The whole time the Pastor stood there smiling and someone asked him why he wasn’t mad at them. He replied that it would be like getting irritated with a blind man for stepping on his foot. He had the rescue thing down for sure! He knew his enemy and it wasn’t flesh and blood. Life’s lessons are so poignant, aren’t they? I know God energized that compassion in your daughter for a reason. I loved the comparison all the way through!!! Very thoughtful!
Floyd
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 7:02 am
Thanks Nancy, good for that pastor, I’m not sure I’d be as gracious. Being fully human, it wouldn’t be my instinct, that’s for sure.
Lisa notes
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 9:55 am
What a tender heart your daughter has. That touches me that she would even care to rescue the bees. I would be hoping they’d all drown. ๐
Losing that innocence is tough. I too often think too that if my motives are good, then all will be well, but that’s not the kind of world we live in. Thankfully grace steps in to remind us that there is One who DOES look at our hearts and honors our good intentions without stinging us.
Floyd
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 12:37 pm
Great point Lisa. He is the One who heals the stings from others. Yeah, my little one has a great heart… I have no idea where she gets it?
Alyssa Santos
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 9:31 pm
Oh, Floyd. I have been stung by the very people I’ve loved and wanted to help the most. This is part of the pain of this life. But then, I do it to Jesus all the time — go my own way, ignore his word, quench the spirit….
Such a great story to illustrate truth. (BTW, I had a daughter who rescued insects, too. She found butterflies to be much less risky ๐ )
Floyd
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 9:48 pm
Thanks Alyssa. Funny, butterflies are my youngest’s favorite. When she was a baby I’d read her books before she could talk. She loved to point out the butterflies that she would call “wa-whys.” Sounds like our daughters were born with similar hearts.
April
Tuesday, December 27, 2011 @ 10:03 am
Not only have I been stung by about 3 yellow jackets (in my boot this year) but I’ve been stung many a time by people in my life and to say that I have a problem trusting is a huge understatement. It takes a good while for me to let people in now. All thanks to the “bee stings” of life.
Floyd
Tuesday, December 27, 2011 @ 11:37 am
Your’e not alone April. If a person lives long enough, we’re gonna get “stung.” This fallen world has a way of wearing on us sometimes. God with us is our only antidote for this world and all of it’s bites! But you already know that… It’s just nice to hear once in awhile.