Honey Bee Cookies: Kindness in Every Bite

Are you looking for a “Bee kind to someone today” cookie recipe? This is it!

Wise King Solomon knew about the impact of a kind word even before the English word, “stress” was invented. I love the way the New Living Translation of the Bile renders Proverbs 16:24: “Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

Honey is like liquid gold—so rich and full of flavor. And yes, it does have natural healing properties. Did you know honey is a natural preservative? If you use it in baking, your baked products will stay fresh longer (like these Honey Bee cookies). And my go-to home remedy when I have a chest cold is lemon juice and honey mixed in a cup of hot water. Also, there is belief (and I buy into this) that local-grown honey acts as a natural vaccine against area allergies. That’s why I always try to buy honey produced locally. The fact that one of my choices is mesquite honey that has a strong flavorful taste is a bonus.

How are kind words like honey?

Think of the last time someone spoke kind words to you. It feels like someone wrapping your body in a soft blanket. That part about healing to the bones? Yes! Kind words make your shoulders relax, lower your blood pressure, and strengthen your emotional well-being to keep moving forward.

I think of the time my husband and I had just signed up for health insurance that offered a quarterly stipend for over-the-counter drugs. The documentation about how to use our new card was confusing to us and well, we had a few discussions about whether to use the over-priced mail order catalogue or use the card at a local store. How would we know what items we could purchase with our benefits? How were we supposed to use the card?  And who at Walmart would bother to help us?

We selected the things we wanted to get and parked ourselves in front of the pharmacy window. “No problem,” the clerk said with the smile. “I can help you do this.” He proceeded to show us how to manage the card. His voice was upbeat and kind, not irritated or condescending. I think I felt both of our blood pressure levels decreasing. It sounds like such a trivial thing, but the fact that he approached our query with a kind attitude made such a difference.

I bet you’ve been there too. One small sentence or act, even a smile or a hand on the shoulder diffuses the stress. I know how good it makes me feel. The challenge is to pass that blessing forward to the next person.

Let’s combine the two–honey and kindness. If you have someone in your life who needs a double of kindness, stick a dozen Honey Bees cookies in a gallon Ziplock bag or disposable food container, and find that person. Factor in extra time to visit. Show compassion and understanding as you listen. And if neither of you have the time, simply say, “I was baking this morning and I thought of you. I’m praying for you.” Think about the power of those words—someone thought about me enough to make something for me! You may never know the full healing quality of what you did, but I think you can count on the Lord using your words and gifts to strengthen the one in need.

And if the person you’re thinking of is on a strict diet and cookies would not be a kindness, even cookies honey in them, kind words have no calories or carb in them. They can offer the best kind of “healing to the bones.”

These Honey Bee Cookies may look rather plain, but they pack in a lot of flavor and go together quickly. (Hint: I know honey is expensive these days. If you can’t find local honey at a farmer’s market, try finding honey at Costco or Trader Joes for what I’ve found to be the best deals.)

Try it!

Disclaimer: The following recipe is from the Alpha Bakery Children’s Cookbook, Minneapolis: Gold Medal Flour, General Mills Inc., 1991.