What We Can Learn from those Aggravating Ants

In May of 2011, I was visiting my sister-in-law, Phyllis Adair-Ward, in Indianapolis and went to one of her writing classes. While we waited, we admired the peony flowers all covered with ants. We were talking amongst ourselves when one of the professors came up and asked us if we knew why there were ants on the buds. We didn’t know and then he said something that stopped me in my tracks.

He said that the purpose of the ants was to “worry” the buds until they opened up to their full potential. I like symbolism, and I thought that all of us at times have had “ants” in our lives that have “worried” us until we have reached our full potential. Now, stay with me on this.

Stop and look back at your life.

  • Was it that marriage that made you consider a job change or even divorce that allowed you to move in a direction you had never considered?
  • Was it that unsupportive parent who didn’t give you what you needed and you then decided, “Dat Gum It (Can you see that I am from Iowa?), I’ll do it myself and show them?”
  • Was it lying flat on your back, sick as a dog, that you prayed to God to help you and if he did then you would do more with your life?
  • Was it that child who broke your heart and who ultimately taught you forgiveness and letting go?
  • Was it being “re-sized” or “downsized” or simply “booted out” from that job that you gave your heart and soul that resulted in your finding a brand new career?

We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, “Why did this happen to me?” unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way. ~Author Unknown

In the final analysis, we have to thank the “ants” in our lives, who worried us to blossom into our full potential.

 

Photo Credit: Me in ME via Compfight cc

Beatrice Bailey

Beatrice Bailey was born and raised in Davenport, Iowa to a Baptist minister father and a mother who was a gospel recording artist. She has three sisters and one brother. She attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a BA in Psychology from California State University, Sacramento. Retired since 2004 from management positions with both the Xerox Corporation and the State of California, Bea now conducts customized seminars on “Budgeting for the Not So Rich and Famous”, “Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together…The Ultimate Balancing Act,” as well as interview techniques entitled, “Selling the Sizzle and Not the Steak.” In addition, she is an active member of St. Paul Baptist Church in Sacramento, CA, where she is an Adult Sunday School teacher. Bea has been a Head Feature Writer for Senior Magazine of Northern California. She also writes a monthly newspaper column entitled, “Uniquely Bea” Currently, she has authored a best-selling book, entitled, "Farewell, My Friend” and is conducting presentations and book signings throughout the United States and Mexico. "Radio Luz,” a Spanish Speaking Christian Radio Station, has interviewed her multiple times. Bea also was selected to be included in a book by The Author’s Show, as one of the "50 Outstanding Writers You Should Be Reading”. Bea has produced and hosted a new innovative television show, “A-Z with Bea”, which aired in November 2009 on RCCTV, Sacramento, CA. Bea is active at St. Paul Baptist Church and is an Adult Sunday school Teacher, and a Small Accountability Group Leader. She is a member of Kaiser’s Bio-Ethics Committee and on the Board of Advisors for the East Lawn Corporation. Recently, she has been asked to participate as a speaker with the Black Health Today national organization. To relax, Bea likes to work out at the gym, walk, knit, paint, sew, cook, garden, and read. Traveling within the United States, Mexico, Asia, the Caribbean, South America and Europe is one of Bea’s true passions. She has two adult children, one “bonus son”, five wonderful grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She resides in Northern California.

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Beatrice Bailey was born and raised in Davenport, Iowa to a Baptist minister father and a mother who was a gospel recording artist. She has three sisters and one brother. She attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a BA in Psychology from California State University, Sacramento. Retired since 2004 from management positions with both the Xerox Corporation and the State of California, Bea now conducts customized seminars on “Budgeting for the Not So Rich and Famous”, “Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together…The Ultimate Balancing Act,” as well as interview techniques entitled, “Selling the Sizzle and Not the Steak.” In addition, she is an active member of St. Paul Baptist Church in Sacramento, CA, where she is an Adult Sunday School teacher. Bea has been a Head Feature Writer for Senior Magazine of Northern California. She also writes a monthly newspaper column entitled, “Uniquely Bea” Currently, she has authored a best-selling book, entitled, "Farewell, My Friend” and is conducting presentations and book signings throughout the United States and Mexico. "Radio Luz,” a Spanish Speaking Christian Radio Station, has interviewed her multiple times. Bea also was selected to be included in a book by The Author’s Show, as one of the "50 Outstanding Writers You Should Be Reading”. Bea has produced and hosted a new innovative television show, “A-Z with Bea”, which aired in November 2009 on RCCTV, Sacramento, CA. Bea is active at St. Paul Baptist Church and is an Adult Sunday school Teacher, and a Small Accountability Group Leader. She is a member of Kaiser’s Bio-Ethics Committee and on the Board of Advisors for the East Lawn Corporation. Recently, she has been asked to participate as a speaker with the Black Health Today national organization. To relax, Bea likes to work out at the gym, walk, knit, paint, sew, cook, garden, and read. Traveling within the United States, Mexico, Asia, the Caribbean, South America and Europe is one of Bea’s true passions. She has two adult children, one “bonus son”, five wonderful grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She resides in Northern California.

4 thoughts on “What We Can Learn from those Aggravating Ants

  1. Wow! Sometimes you read something and it really opens your eyes. We all need to stop and take notice that there is a little bit of good in every misfortune that comes our way. It can’t always be “why me”. Thank you so much for posting this!

  2. I love this outlook on life. Imagine if there were no “ants” to “worry” us. We may complain about them, but we need them more than we’ll probably ever realize.

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