Sweeter Than Honey

 

I was ready to leave for college when my parents moved the family into a larger home on the outskirts of Bakersfield, California. It was on a corner lot that was spacious, with enough room for a small corral and a horse. The horse, Honey, was part of the deal. When they purchased the house, they also purchased Honey for one dollar, just to make it official.

She was an American Saddlebred, a good runner in her youth, who was spending her older years hanging out in the corral. My younger sister was thrilled with the idea of having a horse and quickly learned how to manage Honey.

One day while home visiting from college, I decided to take Honey for a ride outside of the corral. Whether or not sister Jan offered to saddle her up for me has long since been forgotten. If she did, most likely I declined the offer in my “big sister tone,” thinking I knew how to do it.

Once saddled and out of the corral, Honey headed down the road towards plowed fields and open land. After trotting a bit, she picked up her pace. It wasn’t long before she was running at break-neck speed. I didn’t know how to stop her.

Suddenly she veered off the road towards the plowed fields. The uneven turf didn’t slow her down much, but it made staying in the saddle difficult for me.  

After a few minutes, the saddle slid off her back and went underneath her belly, carrying me with it! Thankfully Honey came to an abrupt halt. Her rider was upside-down—head in the dirt and feet in the air! A neighbor who happened to be out walking at the same time, witnessed the whole incident and came running over the furrowed ground.

“Are you alright?” She gasped

I responded affirmatively, even though shaken and feeling chagrined. The memory of how we got home is still vague. Most likely the kind neighbor walked Honey and me back home.

After that, I left the horseback riding to Jan, admitting that Honey was too much for me.

Honey must have been given that name because of her brownish color, rather than her sweet nature. Well, she wasn’t so sweet that day anyway.

After our neighbor Joanne took a trip with her family to Greece, she returned with some souvenirs for Al and me. A nice neighbor! Among the gifts were two bags of candy, both made with honey, sesame seeds and specialty Greek oils.

I’m still wearing the beautiful scarf and using the kitchen towel, but the candy has long since disappeared! The sesame-honey candy was a tasty way to experience Greek culture; and was it sweet!

            For years now, Al has been greeting me in the mornings with a cup of hot herb tea sweetened by a spoonful of honey. Even when he has to leave for his Wednesday morning men’s group or for an early appointment, the empty cup containing a tea bag and honey is on a saucer by the stove. All I have to do is heat the water in the teapot.

One winter morning I walked into the guest room, also dubbed “Judy’s office”, to have a time of Bible reading and prayer as per my usual morning routine. I was surprised to find the small space heater turned on, pointed toward my office chair. The desk light was also on; and a cup of hot tea was waiting for me on the desk.

What a nice thing for Al to do! Calling my spouse “Honey” is very fitting!

Israel, a fertile agricultural land in many areas, was often referred to as a “land flowing with milk and honey” in the Old Testament. Honey was plentiful and good, an excellent analogy for the richness of God’s words: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103 NIV)

The Word of God enlightens, strengthens, teaches and guides us. In addition, God will often speak to us directly through verses in the Bible, words that are timely for that moment, personal words that reinforce our faith and increase our assurance of His love for us.

His words are even sweeter than honey! May we make time spent with the Lord in prayer and in reading His Word a top priority each day.

 “Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34: 8 NIV)