“A Little Bit of Honey”

Although I “popped on” recently to blog a short piece about my painting of the “honeybee,” there is a bit more I would like to share that comes to my mind when I think about the honey bee.

According to my recent research, some etymologists assert that the correct usage requires two words, i.e., honey bee, because it is a kind or type of bee. It is incorrect to run the two words together, as in dragonfly or butterfly, which are appropriate because dragonflies and butterflies are not flies

So, as I think about the honey bee…

I like to think about honey. I always have it in my pantry (raw, local) because I use it in so many ways in my cooking. 

Often what comes to my mind is a memory based on this verse:

Genesis 43:11, KJV:

“And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds.”

When the famine was great in Canaan, Jacob (Israel) desired to send his sons to Egypt for the second time to ask for food. The brothers did not realize that the person they had previously “dealt” with in Egypt was their brother Joseph, whom they had sold into slavery when he was a young man. But this time, when Jacob wanted them to return to Egypt to ask for food, the brothers told their father that “the man” (Joseph, their brother) told them not to come again without their youngest brother. Jacob did not want to send his youngest son. But his other sons convinced him that was the only way their request would be honored by “the man.” So Jacob sent them, along with the youngest brother, and told them to take some things with them (by way of convincing “the man” to give them food), including fruits, a gift, a little balm, and a little honey, along with spices and nuts. In this case, the attempt at persuasion was successful, and the rest of the story is an amazing working of God’s plan.

Many years ago (probably in the mid-60’s), my Daddy preached a sermon (I likely heard it more than once) that was one of my favorites. The title was “A Little Bit of Honey.” I still remember it. He used this verse (Genesis 43:11) as his text, and the theme of his sermon was that if we would remember to add “a little bit of honey” into a circumstance, things might turn out for the better. He “expounded” on that theme, of course.

Actually, there are several Bible verses that mention honey, such as:

Psalm 119:103 

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Proverbs 24:13

Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

Me? I like a little honey on a homemade biscuit. And, it adds a sweetness to several of my homemade bread recipes. 

From my Kitchen:

I’m glad God made the honey bee!

#honeybee #watercolor #aLittleBitofHoney

Quick Little Honeybee Painting

I’ll just hop onto my blog for a moment, to post my little honeybee painting that I just finished, from a mini class in Anna Mason’s Nature Studio, where I am a member. 

My daughter-in-law is not fond of anything that flies and buzzes, and I can understand that, because I am morbidly afraid of the creatures that are slithery. So maybe I’ll give her a heads-up not to look at my Instagram or Facebook or blog! Ha.

This one was very quick and relatively easy, so it was a nice break for me, and yet allows me to stay in touch with my “painterly” side.

#AnnaMason #NatureStudio #honeybee #watercolorhoneybee #watercolor