A Home for Bees
Scripture Reading — Psalm 104:10-18
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.”
Our reading from Psalm 104 paints a picture of all God’s provisions for the creatures in his wonderful world. But when we look around us, it’s easy to find hungry people and other creatures without shelter or food. Homelessness—for beleaguered people, habitat-deprived creatures, or even hiveless bees—is not the way it’s supposed to be.
Honeybees have lived in a variety of homes over the course of time. A hollow log in a sheltered area can provide a great home for bees. People have also provided homes or hives for them. In earlier times a pot or basket would work well. Beehives for producing honey today are commonly made of stackable boxes with removable frames.
Last spring, my son and I installed two small colonies of honeybees in our bee boxes. The process is fairly simple. We transferred frames from a couple of “nucs” (nucleus colonies of bees) into our boxes. The bees quickly settled into their new home.
As a family, my wife and children and I have lived in many different places, and God has supplied all that we have needed. We find strength in knowing that God has been with us in all the places where we have been called to live.
From the abundance God has given, may we open our hearts and hands to help people who need a home today.
Lord, thank you for providing us with homes and so much more. Fill us with gratitude and generosity, that we may share with people in need. Amen.
About the author — Don Byker
Don Byker has been a pastor since 1984 in various churches and institutional settings. Don and his wife, Donna, are the parents of four adult children, two of whom are married. Donna and Don are also the glad grandparents of three granddaughters. Currently Don is serving in a rural church in Michigan full of gardeners.
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