I was pleasantly surprised to find that a butterfly had emerged from it’s chrysalis at work today. I took it outside in the hopes of releasing it and the instant it felt fresh air and sunshine, it opened and closed it’s wings. When I opened the lid to the aquarium, I found that it’s foot was stuck to the chrysalis. I carefully freed the foot, though a small piece was still attached. As the wings seemed to be drying out, the butterfly still seemed a bit sluggish, but eventually tried to remove the remaining chrysalis from it’s foot. It was as if it was trying to solicit my help because it kept putting it’s foot on my finger. Eventually we loosed the foot, but the butterfly wasn’t flying away as I suspected it should and it wouldn’t walk onto my hand either. My heart was starting to get saddened as I wondered if this beautiful and delicate little creature would survive. The butterfly seemed to perk up when I placed a flower in front of it, and tried to climb onto the tiny little flower. It eventually tried to climb onto my hand but “stumbled” terribly and couldn’t balance itself. Upon further inspection, I noticed that one pair of it's legs was weak and didn't seem to function properly. As gently and as carefully as I could, I scooped up the butterfly and began searching for the nearest flowering bush to put it on. As I was walking, I was sheltering my little friend from the wind while trying not to touch it’s wings. All the while just wanting to give it a few moments of pleasure before it died. When I came back about 20 minutes later, the butterfly was gone. I am confident that it finally found it’s wings and flew away. Though I don’t know it’s fate…
Why was my heart breaking over an insignificant little butterfly? Why was I so concerned with it’s comfort and well being? I believe that God was trying to teach me something through my passion for this little bug. That no matter how insignificant we feel or appear to the world, His heart breaks for us when we are fighting to survive. Does He want to do what He can to keep us safe, make us comfortable and give us joy in the midst of our struggles? You bet! "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:16 (NIV)
Lord, help me to receive this message from Your heart to mine. Break down all of the walls in my heart and my mind that make it hard for me to truly internalize how great Your love is for me. Help me to see myself and the people I encounter each day through Your eyes. Let me feel Your heart for your children!
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” -- Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
photo and prose (c) 2010 by DKF
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