Down on the farm it has a different meaning!
John Denver sings a song about; Life on the farm being laid back; and I want to know what kind of farm he was talking about? Our farm wasn’t what I would have called being laid back, but back-breaking. Our children were introduced to hard work at a very young age. I think it has helped them through their lives, because they can take anything the world throws at them. It wasn’t all hard work and no fun, we always made sure there was a balance of both. The first two of my children were boys, and they were best friends. They were also the source of constant competition, always trying to outdo one another. This was great when they were seeing who could stack the most firewood, or milk the cows the fastest, but when it came to playing tricks, it could sometimes get out of hand.
They were just coming into their ages of being constant imps, about 6 and 4 when they decided to play a trick on their dad. My husband came into the kitchen, as he did every morning to go to work, and sat down to put on his boots. We were talking about what he was going to do that day when he got a perplexed look on his face. He pulled his foot out of his boot to find it covered with honey! WHAT?! Giggling from the two naughty boys around the corner didn’t leave any doubt who were the perpetrators of this prank. You can’t help but laugh along when the laughter is infectious. My husband cleaned out his boots the best he could, and wore his old ones while these dried from their cleaning. I have to say it was a very funny trick, and the humor of the laughter stayed with us the whole day.
Farmers are creatures of habit, and do the same things nearly every day, as do other people who have jobs with restrictive hours. So the next morning when he sat down to put on his boots he was shocked to discover they did it again. This time it was not a bit funny, and the small boys were perplexed why we were not rolling in laughter like the day before. You see, it was a funny joke, but we failed as parents to use that time as teaching tool. Why it was funny, but should never be done again, as it was not good for the boots, and not good to waste the honey. We failed to give them the wisdom to temper their unbridled spirit. We needed to teach them when something they do is dangerous, or foolish, so they can glean wisdom, and understanding, why rules are made to keep them safe. Just like telling them not to ride their bikes in the traffic, even though the ride may be smother, it is dangerous and may get them killed. It is also important to instill the wisdom of considering people’s feelings when playing jokes or pulling pranks. It is important not to embarrass them in public while reprimanding them about their actions, but making them understand they also should be considerate of others feelings. Yes, honey and wisdom both can be sweet and give you sustenance.
As parents it is our job to take our children by the hands, and keep them safe, while guiding them through life. Teaching them to stand, walk, skip, jump and run, but at the same time helping them up when they lose their balance, fall, trip, miss, and slam into a wall. All the while teaching them how to do it right, better, stronger, kinder and over and over, and to swing them high and make them giggle, for there is wisdom in that too!
We as authors have the tools before us to be teachers of every kind, to everyone. To pass on the knowledge and wisdom that age has bestowed on us in the school of hard knocks. Most of life they will have to learn on their own, but it would be helpful to know what is coming down the pike, so they can avoid the pitfalls. Lay it out there and if they will be smart, they will glean a little bit of sweet wisdom anywhere they can get it.
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Proverbs 16:23-24
My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
Proverbs 23:13-14
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
Proverbs 25:16, 27
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psalms 19:9-10
I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psalms 119:102-103
Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
Isaiah 7:15