Sometimes I feel like the world’s worst procrastinator. Instead of finishing my tasks, I jump from one to another. My schedules disappear, along with my peace of mind. The “shoulds” nag at me, and my to-do list grows ever longer.
Not my husband, though. He is more diligent and does things with regularity. I used to think it was because he was stuck in ruts, until I realized that he’s just a very steady guy. That’s why he gets so much done and why he’s the most peaceful person I know. Peace and serenity come more easily when the mind isn’t overwhelmed with so many “shoulds” and “should-haves.”
Diligence
Diligence can mean the difference between success and failure. It improves our performance. By eliminating our feelings of regret, it allows us to work with more joy and greater peace of mind.
However, diligence requires consistency and persistence. It means having goals and aspirations and working toward them because we know they’re worth it.
It means we getting rid of bad habits and working on new ones. This is something I’m not good at, despite my good intentions. So I decided to take a lesson from the insects, especially the ants and the bees!
Lessons from the insects
The ant is the epitome of diligence.
When I think of diligence, I think of ants. Such a tiny insect, yet it accomplishes so much! Even the Bible praises the ant for its diligence and hard work (Proverbs 6:6). In fact, most insects, are like this. If they procrastinate or slow down, they won’t eat or survive.
Ants not only endlessly forage, “leaf-cutter ants” also grow food underground. They do not eat leaves; they harvest them to cultivate a specialized fungus in underground gardens. They chew the vegetation into a pulp, feed it to the fungus, and eat the resulting nutrient-rich fungal swellings, which are their colony’s only food
Other ants are “dairy herders.” They herd, protect, and “milk” sap-sucking insects such as aphids. Just like human herders, ants move their livestock to nutrient-rich plants and defend them from predators such as ladybugs in exchange for honeydew, a sweet, sugary waste product.
They have a goal and they work tirelessly and consistently toward it. It’s no wonder Scripture tells us to be like the ant!
The bee’s diligent consistency
I find bees particularly fascinating. As foragers, they play an important role in our food supply by ensuring that plants cross-pollinate. When it’s time to forage, the bee focuses solely on that task.
Some bees prefer only one type of flower, while others will visit many different plants. Did you know, though, that even those with a more varied diet stick to only one type of flower per pollination trip? This behavior is called floral consistency, and it ensures the maintenance and reproduction of each particular plant population year after year. It safeguards the continuation of flowering plants such as cherry and plum trees, as well as bean and tomato plants.
Ants and bees see their tasks through to completion. They work with immense diligence, a quality we could all use more of.
We all have goals we’d like to achieve, skills we’d like to perfect, and tasks that God has given to us to complete. It’s important that we stick to them.
So let’s take our cue from the insects, and do what we need to do when we need to do it to the best of our ability.
With God’s help, we’ll be able to look back on our days knowing that we’ve made progress. We’ll hear the Lord say: Well done, good and faithful servant. You observed the ant, considered its ways, and lived your days wisely!
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise. It has no commander, overseer, or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
Proverbs 6:6
đź“· Image credits: Jogging | Woman | Ant | Pine branch | Bee is mine.