Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Butterflies

It was a lovely day in early summer. I had just finished picking all our peas and had several five gallon pails filled to the top ready to shell. I parked the stroller with our sleeping baby under the shade of one of our big oak trees and went to get several bowls to start shelling peas.

Sailor was trying to help and we were enjoying our forenoon when I happened to notice the bark on the old oak tree seemed to be moving. I went to look at it more closely to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me. I got there in time to see a butterfly inch it's way out of the crack in the bark and sit there fanning it's wings gently and then fluttered away.

There was still movement going on and before long several more butterflies emerged. I sat on the grass to watch in amazement as butterfly after butterfly emerged, tested it's wings and then went fluttering off. Some of them didn't go very far in their first flight and rested on our head and shoulders before going on. Sailor was thrilled at all the butterflies and would have liked to catch and keep a few, but after I explained they were happiest when they were free he was content to watch this unusual event unfold with me.

By the time the last butterfly had emerged there had been close to a hundred. I couldn't help but feel a little in awe and wondering if there was some kind of sign of hopefulness attached to this. Whether there was or not I felt hopeful as if by waiting there would be great things to come yet in our life.

That was the first and only year we ever had butterflies hatching in that tree, and I'll always remember that day fondly!

15 comments:

  1. Oh to have been able to witness this 'birth' of those beautiful Butterflies - you know...when you see something like this how can one not believe in a higher being!

    Thanks for sharing....again...perfect.

    Karen

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  2. How wonderful for you to get to witness something like that!

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  3. What a beautiful sight. I wonder if they were Monarch butterflies?

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  4. What a beautiful sight to behold! Butterflies have a special meaning for me as they were very special to my mom...and she passed away last summer. I think of her whenever I see one.

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  5. Beautiful story....what a blessing that was...there is certainly a message in that....bull frogs,butterflies and sinners saved by grace...we have all been born again....blessings

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  6. Wow that is amazing. How fortunate you were to be able to watch that.

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  7. That must have been a glorious thing to watch unfold! I can just imagine how many botanists and naturalists would have liked to have been there. I know I'd have loved it, too. And I do believe God speaks through nature.

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  8. that is great, I do love butterflies too, we sing a song, called Just Like a Butterfly, tells the whole story of its emerging, thanks for this,

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  9. What a beautiful memory! It reminds me of the time we were privileged to watch 3 baby wrens take their first flight.

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  10. OOH! You were so lucky to have been at the right place at the right time. How many people would have been "too busy" to stop and take a second look, and then to just settle in the grass and watch one of God's many miracles happen in front of them. That's a blessing to hold forever!

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  11. WOW what a privilage to watch that.

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  12. That sounds amazing! I'd love to have been there and seen that. We get so many beautiful moths out here in my southeastern Texas home..but not as many butterflies.

    Donna @ Comin' Home

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  13. Hi Mary Ann!

    What an awesome sight those butterflies must have been!

    Your blog is lovely and I look forward to visiting again.

    Thanks for stopping by my place and leaving a comment.

    Blessings,
    Marsha

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.