The Butterfly Lesson

 

When difficult times come and continue for a while, it is hard for us to imagine that they have a purpose in our lives, or that good will ultimately come from our struggles. Consider with me the story of the butterfly:

One day, while relaxing on his porch, a man looked out and saw a small cocoon hanging from a branch on a bush. Upon closer inspection, he could see a small hole on the end of the cocoon. The cocoon moved back and forth as the butterfly inside struggled to make its way through the opening.

Fascinated by what was happening, the man watched for what seemed like hours, until finally, the movement stopped. Unfortunately, the butterfly was still inside the cocoon. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and could not go any farther.

Feeling compassion for the struggling butterfly, the man decided to help. He took a pair of scissors and gently opened the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily.

As the man watched the butterfly come out of its restrictive shell, he saw that its body appeared withered, and it had tiny, shriveled wings. He expected that at any moment, the wings would open, expand, and become firm enough to support the butterfly’s body, but to his great disappointment, this didn’t happen. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What this kind man had failed to understand was, the butterfly was required to struggle. The effort, as difficult as it seemed, allowed the fluids of his body to be forced up into his wings. Only then would he be ready for flight.

Isaiah 55:9-10 states, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If we went through our lives without any obstacles, we would find ourselves crippled emotionally and spiritually. We would not be as strong as we could have been.

 If, through our trials, the Lord doesn’t immediately take them away, perhaps He is preparing us too fly!  

Winter is here, and it's beautiful! It can also seem to go on forever. When it does, sometimes we become blinded to the beauty we once saw in it. When we are in the midst of the winters of our lives, or the times that seem dark and cold, it is comforting to know that spring is just ahead. Although we might think that it never will, spring has never failed to come. So hold on and have faith, for spring will surely come.

       Surely, spring must come. . .

                                                                 By Christi Pauline

Long. . . oh, seems so

Everlastingly long. . .

Dark winter chill.

It comes and settles in,

As if to stay forever,

Then lies there,

Content to bury every hope

Of ever seeing vital signs

Of spring once more,

Or of feeling the light and warmth

Of the Sun radiate upon

A worn out soul.

Surely, spring must come. . .

Surely it must!

Ne’er through long span of years

Has season failed to turn,

And give way to better day;

A little at a time,

Changing days and days

Of unrelenting gloom

To Light!

Oh, that it might come boldly,

Pushing out all evidence

Of heavy hearted days;

But, no!

‘Tis more apt to tease

In a mean-spirited way,

To dish out hope,

Then take it all away;

But surely, spring must come,

Surely it must!

A little at a time.

When, at last,

Glowing hours conquer dismal day,

‘Til each determined day

Prove brighter than the last.

And then. . .

How soon shall we forget

The winter ever was!