Leila and the Bee
Leila was a young girl, 8 years old, and always very curious to explore the world around her. She enjoyed watching the birds flying, the pigeons building their nests and the insects crawling around getting their daily tasks done.
One day, she noticed a bee and immediately withdrew her hand so she would not be stung. She heard a soft voice:
“Leila, don’t be afraid, I do no harm, I’m just here to do my daily work.”
Leila was a bit surprised and suspicious remembering the neighbor telling her “Stay away from bees, they just hurt you, they do no good” but the voice was so kind that Leila decided to stay for a moment.
“Look Leila, I brought my pollen basket with me, it’s right on my hind leg. To get the apple you’re having every morning, the tree blossoms need to be pollinated so that the tree is fertilized and fruit can grow. That’s part of our job. Sometimes the wind helps but mostly pollination is our job.”
“I see you’re wearing a lovely cotton shirt, that's only possible to make because the cotton flower plant was pollinated by bees.”
“I'm so glad you and your family and friends come to us to help with the cotton plants and also with all the food. We would not be able to do this by ourselves! You are our friend! We need to make it safe for bees so that everyone can enjoy an apple, some honey, or fruits and vegetables.”
The bee said: “Before I leave I will give you a present, Leila. Here is a packet of wildflower seeds so that all the bees in your garden can thrive on pollen and nectar!”
“Thank you so much bee,” Leila said. I’m so happy that I did not just run away but stayed and listened to you. I now understand how important it is to have you and all the other animals to keep nature in balance. I want to tell everyone about you so they understand how much you help us.”
What is your take-away from this story? Can you mention 3 personal reasons to be grateful for bees?
@amiablePeace77 I love bees - I appreciate them pollinating and keeping a balance in nature. I try to do what I can to encourage bees but there are fewer than I remember from previous years. Thanks for sharing this story.
Bees are the most important for the ecosystem.
Bees gives the naturally potent medicine - HONEY.
Bees are the epitome of persistence and teamwork.
@bubblyMusic8287 thanks for pointing that out. We have a lot to learn from bees.
@soulsings thanks for giving us a gentle reminder to think about how important they are !
@bubblyMusic8287 all of nature is important. It is one giant network of interdependent beings.
@amiablePeace77
What is your take-away from this story? We often forget to look at the positive aspect of a particular thing. For instance, Leila overlooked the benefits provided by bees and solely remembered that they sting.
Can you mention 3 personal reasons to be grateful for bees?
-Bees produce nourishing fruits, veggies, honey, etc through pollination. 🍯
-Bees pollinate food for birds and mammals too. 🐝
-They are a crucial part of our earth's rich biodiversity. ♻️
Bees help to sustain life through pollinating plants, they provide us with honey which can be used not as food and a cure to certain diseases such as colds. The honey also boosts our immunity
@hardworkingBlueberry6046 thanks for mentioning those good points.
