Chatting About Urban Homesteading With Guest Sherry Willis

On today's podcast, I interview Sherry Willis from Half-Pint Homestead. We discuss her urban homesteading journey from the wide-open spaces of Wyoming to eventually land within the city limits in Missouri on a 1/5 acre plot raising goats, chickens, and rabbits with plans to bring in other livestock. Listen To The Podcast Urban Homesteading: Starting…

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April 1, 2015

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Lessons from the Hive
"Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
— Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

Today I spent some time watching the activity around my honey bee hive. It seemed like every bee had a purpose. Some were leaving the hive in search of nectar and pollen. Others were returning with their legs covered in golden pollen. There was a constant flow of movement—busy, organized, and productive.

As I stood there watching, I was reminded that none of those bees were working for immediate reward. They weren't gathering nectar to enjoy it that afternoon. They were working for something larger than themselves. Every trip, every flower visited, every load carried was contributing to the health and future of the hive.

It made me think about my own life.

So much of what I do on the homestead feels like that. Planting seeds. Building soil. Repairing fences. Pruning fruit trees. Many of these tasks don't produce immediate results. They require faith that the effort invested today will bear fruit tomorrow.

The Christian life is often the same.

Galatians 6:9 reminds me not to grow weary in doing good. Sometimes I want to see results right away. I want the garden to grow faster, the project to be finished sooner, or the answer to prayer to come immediately. But God often works through seasons of patient faithfulness.

The bees don't quit because they haven't made honey yet. They continue their work day after day, trusting the process God designed for them. Likewise, God calls me to remain faithful in the work He has given me, trusting that in His timing there will be a harvest.

Watching that hive today reminded me that small acts of obedience matter. A prayer offered. A kind word spoken. A task completed. A seed planted. None of it is wasted when it is done for the Lord.

One day, the harvest comes. The honey is stored. The fruit ripens. The prayers are answered. But until then, God calls me to keep working faithfully.

Reflection Questions
- Am I growing weary in an area where God is calling me to remain faithful?
- What "small acts" of obedience might God be using to accomplish something much larger?
- Where do I need to trust God's timing instead of demanding immediate results?
Prayer

Lord, thank You for the lessons You teach through Your creation. As I watched the bees today, remind me that faithfulness matters even when results are not immediately visible. Help me to work diligently in the tasks You have given me and trust that You are bringing a harvest in Your perfect timing. Keep me from growing weary and strengthen me to continue doing good. Amen.