From the Littlest Things Come the Greatest Lessons

Dear Reader:

When I accidentally came across this article in Newsweek I left an appointment office waiting room with a smile on my face… let’s hear it for God’s creatures-who come in all sizes. And even the smallest can teach us a great lesson.

Ants have been seen healing wounded trees in Panama. This is a behavior never observed before. When holes were drilled into Cecropia tree trunks… the ants emerged from their homes to patch up the wounds… significantly reducing the size of the holes within 2 1/2 hours and leaving them completely healed within 24 hours.

They worked in teams of 7-10 ants patching the trunk holes with plant fibers until filled in completely …which, consequentially helped the plant form it’s own scar tissue.

After the repairs were made ants made their homes in the multi-level renovated tree trunk ” apartments” …thus forming a symbiotic relationship. But it wasn’t just self-serving to take care of housing issues when the damage was fixed-the ants took their philanthropy a step farther.

Producing ( internally) anti-microbial chemicals… the ants spread it on damaged leaves to restore their status in maintaining a healthy tree. The Aztecs ants and Cecropia trees are happily co-living together-each providing the other with shelter (for the ants) and free health ” benefits. ” (for the trees.) Mutual aid and benefits. A win-win situation for both.

For me… this true story was a reminder ( one more time) that all God’s creatures, including us humans, were never meant to go through life alone. We are all suppose to help our fellow man ( and God’s creatures)- and to be willing to give and receive throughout our life journey.

So until tomorrow… ” I have found giving liberates the soul of the giver.” Angelou

Today is my favorite day -Winnie the Pooh

Tommy and Kaitlyn have rounded home base …fixing up their backyard-a long on-going project but one paying off now-looks terrific y’all! Congrats!

Jeff came yesterday and look -” I have light ” -more accurately all three beaming recessed ceiling lights! Thanks Jeff! The yard man who is also a house man… or should I say a modern Renaissance Man! 👍🤣

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”

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