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Showing posts with label butterfly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label butterfly. Show all posts

Friday, May 24, 2013

Five Minute Friday

Today, I'm joining with some crazy, brave and inspiring women at the blog of Lisa Jo Baker. Each Friday she gives a prompt and with that prompt, writers write for 5 minutes with no second-guessing. Just writing what comes to them. Then, they share and encourage each other. What a great {and scary} idea. 

I'm joining in and challenging you to do the same! Today's prompt is "View"

Ready? Go!

It has continued to happen since the day God gave me His view of my life. Years ago He said, "You are like the butterfly" and since that day, I see them; a wink and a kiss from Him each time.

I hated the mess of my story, though I loved its redemption and God's blessing to set the deep contrast to the frigid dark. I told God about that once and that's when He told me I was like the butterfly. And I can see it plain as day, how the horrible circumstances and stories were the caterpillar years. I crawled on my belly against earth and limb. I was helpless yet not hopeless.

One day, God said "Enough" and I saw the years of abuse I had known, all by different people, come to a halt as he ended the chapter and began a new one where I would learn that "man" is not all bad.

The Chrysalis.

I hid myself in the words God spoke over me that built me up and encouraged me. I hid myself in the words this man spoke to me that said I was beautiful...really beautiful. I was all wrapped up in encouraging words, layers of "think on these things" covered me, and I was changing from the inside out.

The Butterfly.

I have found my wings and how I love to bounce in the breezes and rest on the flowers. Simple and joyful, my life in Him looks different than the dark and cold earth I used to cling to.

Today, I can be stopped at a traffic light and a butterfly will cross my windshield. In the yard with my kiddos, I will see butterflies of all sizes and colors make their way in and out of my fence line. And every time I see one, I smile and I thank my God for the redemption he brought to me as I learned to trust him and trust man all over again.

Delicately His and trusting Him with every new moment.




5 Minute Friday: View

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Friday, April 20, 2012

For the longest time, I've been in love butterflies. It's not just because they're beautiful. It's mostly because I see my life when I look at them and it makes me so happy...so at peace.

I've wanted to share about this here but I had to think carefully about how I would approach the topic. Honestly, I could say 1,000 things about them and how I relate to them.

For the purpose of this post, I think I'll just stick with looking at the life cycle of a butterfly.

The Egg:

Before I was even born, God had a plan for my life. He knew my journey would be incredible and at times difficult. Still, he knit me together and put his thumbprint on my life.

The Caterpillar:

Goodness. This stage is hard for me to look at in great detail. This is the part of my life that I spent "getting fat" on what the world had to offer me. Have you ever read the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar? One day the caterpillar enjoys one thing and the next 2, and the next...you get the idea. Indulgence. I spent so much time indulging in myself and my desires. I was hurt so many times and by my own choices too. I unfortunately suffered scars of molestation, physical abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, rape, being cheated on {a few different times}, broken promises, a suicide attempt, anorexia, depression, anxiety...the list goes on and on. So I had to indulge in things that made me feel good as a means of escape.

And God said "Enough".

The Chrysalis:

I met my husband and felt like I was finally tucked away from those painful shards of memories. I was "tucked in" to feelings of peace, grace, hope, happiness, love, and more. But being "tucked in" was not enough to remove the pain.

No, my friends. The pain can only be removed with time.

So I waited...and waited...and tried everything I knew to rid myself of the pain from my past. While being securely held by love, I learned that I couldn't run from anything or "get rid" of anything. No. I had to face it and it was like I was having a bad dream.

I went through a twelve step study called Celebrate Recovery and it was at this time that I began to heal from those wounds. I was pregnant with my first child and I was desperate to shake off the shards and splinters so I could be a healthy mom. I learned to face it...and forgive...and let go...and take responsibility...and cling to God's love like never before...and heal.

And one, glorious day...

The Butterfly:


I emerged a changed person. I was completely different in every way,  yet, I was still the same person. You see, inside every butterfly lives a caterpillar story. And when they flutter around so freely, there is still the past where they were crawling the ground and indulging...in something...as a means of escape...from something. The difference is in the chrysalis stage. Everything changed when I surrendered it all and took time to heal.

The promise of the butterfly is:

"I will never be the same again".

And I'm free.



Now I see butterflies all the time. I see them in the trees. They flutter across the hood of my car while I'm stopped at a light. Heck, one jumped out of a box when we raised two of them in our home recently. This butterfly walked right up onto my hand and stayed there until I put it down outside...and it fluttered away. These are what I call "butterfly kisses". I remember my past but in such a happy way now. If not for the caterpillar, I would never experience the sweet,simple freedom of the butterfly.


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Butterfly Kisses

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Wednesday, September 7, 2011

My family and I did a lot over the past weekend. One of my highlights was visiting the butterfly garden on Mackinac Island, MI and making a new friend.


This was the first of 4 butterflies to land on me while I was there. I guess I'm all set in the "good luck" department.

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

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Wordless Wednesday ~ Of Labor Day Weekend

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