Jeff was excited 

When he saw a golden bee

Buzzing in his bedroom

- – -

He wanted to catch it so badly

That he ran to his mother

And told her

He explained that he wished

To keep it in a jar

- – -

Jeff had other plans

For this bee

He thought that he could

Get honey

- – -

His mother assured him

That it would take more

Than one bee to produce honey

“You’ll have to have a hive,”

She told him

- – -

His mother gave him a jar

Warned him that bees sting

And he should be careful

Jeff told her he understood

And set out to catch this bee

That buzzed and flew

Quickly around him

- – -

The bee became angry

Attempted to sting Jeff

And he ended up smashing it 

Against a wall

- – -

Jeff began crying

“I’ve killed it!”

He told his mother, “I’ll be going

to hell.”

- – -

“Never mind,” his mother comforted him

“The bee could have stung you.  You

did the right thing”

- – -

“Don’t bees have souls like us?”

He asked.  ”No,” said his mother.

“I believe they do.  They’re alive like us?”

- – -

“Yes, they’re alive like us, but 

according to our Christian faith 

they don’t have souls”

Jeff sighed, wiping tears from his eyes

- – -

What Jeff’s mother didn’t say

Although she knew

Was that in Jainism that have over 

Four million followers worldwide  

They believe that all living things

Have souls and their faith

Subscribes to non-violence

Image via Wikipedia

Towards all living beings

- – -