War. Turmoil. Politics. Trials. Excessive government expenditures. Debt. Plagues. Terror.  W-e-l-l….my head sometimes goes into the sand when these topics become the main choices of conversation. Proverbs 16:24 “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” I am certainly able to participate and have opinions about the above-mentioned possible conversations; however, leaning on Proverbs, I’d rather not be embroiled in over-heated contentious discussions regarding them.

I have planted milkweed plants and love watching them grow and bloom beautifully awaiting the monarch butterfly and then the egg to become a caterpillar to then come eat each and every leaf.  Next a cocoon, soon to be a chrysalis and voila, another beautiful monarch butterfly.  The milkweed is the only source of food for this butterfly. My friend is a beekeeper and shares with me delicious honey from the honeycombs he harvests. My butterflies are thriving and his bees are thriving. The turmoil and negativity from every day living definitely falls into the shadows when I ponder the bees and the monarchs. 

Paul, while imprisoned, wrote to his followers in Philippi.  From Philippians 4:8, “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise think about these things.” If Paul, while imprisoned and certainly suffering, can remind us to ponder the good, we certainly should thank our God for His unconditional love and our many good gifts, some that buzz and flit right around us!

Jill