Buzz, Buzz, Buzz Went the Bee

“So that’s how we’re going to play the game today,” I muttered to myself. 

When the alarm had driven me from peaceful dreams an hour and a half earlier, I’d lain in bed for a few minutes gently massaging the areas around my eyes and nose and wondered why and how allergies can affect you so much when you’re not doing anything but sleeping. 

Upon arrival at work, I couldn’t find my key card and had to sit in the car watching for the next unsuspecting coworker to open the door.  As I saw one of the gentlemen from our building nearing the front door, I leapt out of the car and pounded across the asphalt lot, catching up to him just in time to squeeze through the door behind him.  In the elevator I stared at my shoes and mumbled something about losing my keycard, all the time knowing he thought I was some kind of deranged person.   

Now I’d switched on my computer and a black screen appeared with a few random characters scattered across the monitor. 

Well, don’t think you can get me down; I pursed my lips and frowned at the monitor.  Because I’m not going to let you beat me.  All of a sudden I was smiling.  Exactly who or what was trying to beat me?  Nobody and nothing of course – this was not some personal assault on me.  Some days just start like that.

I couldn’t control how my day had started; but my reaction to this rough start would determine how my day ended.  At that moment, I decided it would end well.  I squared my shoulders, took a deep breath of resolve, and remembered one of my favorite childhood books, “Buzz, Buzz, Buzz Went the Bee.”  The story starts off with a bee buzzing around the barnyard and heading towards an unsuspecting cat.  You can imagine the ripple affect as the injured cat takes its annoyance out on the cow.  The cow promptly kicks the farmer’s wife.  The next picture shows the farmer’s wife serving up a pile of burned toast to her husband.  By the end of the story, most of the farm is involved, and the farmer is kicking at the dog.  The dog promptly takes off after the bee, and the final page depicts a bee with the most malicious look on its little bee face.  The words that end the story are exactly the same ones that started the story, “Buzz, buzz, buzz went the bee.”

I am NOT going to be Buzz the Bee, I told myself.  Too many people are going to cross my path today.  I’m not going to be responsible for all them having a bad day.  Amazing what a difference that mindset made.  As the sun streamed in my window, I basked in its warmth and smiled.  Later in the day, the sky grew dark, rain beat against the windows, and cool air infiltrated my office.  I shivered, pulled my sweater around my shoulders, and I smiled, thankful to be in a warm building. 

As I crawled into bed that evening, I thought about how differently my day could have turned out.  On this rare occasion, I’d remembered to give thanks in all things, or at least not to let circumstances get me down.  Unfortunately, more often than not, I forget to count my blessings and focus on everything that’s going wrong.  That one day was a good lesson and reminder for me. 

Today, make up your mind to be thankful.  After all, it is the season for thankfulness.

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  I Thessalonians 5:18

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