A Name With Purpose
Over the years, many people have asked me how I came up with the name Hollyhocks & Honey. The truth is, it holds deep meaning for me—rooted in cherished childhood memories, faith, and the lessons of resilience and provision.
When I first was trying to come up with a name many years ago, one of my children asked me what my favorite thing to think about from my childhood was and to use that in my name somehow. I knew immediately where my heart would lead me.
One of my fondest memories is spending summers on my grandmother's farm. The farmhouse was over 100 years old, the land in our family for generations. One of the most beautiful memories for me would be the early summer mornings when I would walk out the back door of the farmhouse to go collect eggs. Dew still on the grass, fog hugging the ground, sun shining on all of the old outbuildings. I can close my eyes and still vividly see the old, rusty metal walls of that chicken coop, the sun hitting it and the row of the most beautiful hollyhocks lining the perimeter. Pinks, yellows, white, deep burgundy, double peach. They were breathtaking, and to a child they looked like they could almost touch the sky. And not far away sat bee boxes. Busy bees working in the morning light. Beautiful, harmonious productivity. It felt like a secret to bear witness to this beauty every morning. But as summers do, they came to an end, and I had to return home, leaving behind the hollyhocks and honeybees until the next year. Time moved on. A house fire took that old farmhouse, and eventually, the land was sold. But do you know what still remains? The hollyhocks– standing tall, strong and enduring.
As a Christian I find deeper meaning in the hollyhocks and honeybees. The hollyhocks’ ability to withstand difficult and less than desirable conditions, their endurance and the strength needed to thrive. This mirrors the Christian walk—growing in faith, standing firm in trials, and reaching upward toward God, just as the flowers reach for the sun. Their upward-reaching blooms serve as a reminder to keep our eyes and hearts focused on God. Hollyhocks attract bees and butterflies, offering nourishment and shelter. A symbol of how Christians are called to love, serve, and care for others.
Did you know that honey is mentioned sixty-one times in the bible? Honey is portrayed as a positive symbol. It represents abundance, God’s promise, and prosperity. Exodus 3:8 talks about God taking the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan, the Promised Land, where milk and Honey flow. This implies the abundance that God has in store for his people. But my favorite verse is Psalm 81:16: “But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” The contrast between the hardness of the ‘rock’ and the sweetness of ‘honey’ is a nod to the graciousness of God’s provision, even in hard times. The goodness and richness of God’s blessings. The rock is a symbol of strength and permanence, but also the harsh and challenging aspects of life. A reminder that no matter what hard and challenging times you may be going through, if you seek the sweetness of God’s word and promises you will find spiritual growth, strength and comfort in our Almighty Father. An enduring testament to the power of God’s word.
May the honey from the rock be a reminder of the abundant blessings and unexpected joys that await us on this journey of faith. And may we all stand tall and unwavering like the hollyhocks, offering love, nourishment, and shelter to those we are called to serve.
That is the heart behind Hollyhocks & Honey.
I pray God’s blessings upon you
