Surprises . . .in the storm. . .

Early Sunday morning I sat at my dining room table with my heart heavy with sadness. Rain clouds had cleared and the morning looked fresh as the wind gently moved yellow lantana and pink and orange zinnias around in my garden.

I looked away from the window briefly and felt my heart fill with sadness and my eyes with tears.

Then like a miracle, like a balm sent to give me comfort, I saw the fluttering of magnificent yellow and blue butterfly wings alight on the pink zinnia petals in the middle of my garden.

I just sat at my window and in amazement drank in this reminder that although the world is filled with pain, injustice, and grief, there still are those little surprises that God sends us to remind us that in the darkness there is still beauty.

This is a female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. She simply sat on the zinnia as I carefully approached her to snap a picture. Surprisingly, she simply fluttered her wings as if she knew that I needed to be near her, that I needed her reminder that in the ugliness of this life there is incredible beauty, and goodness.

Did God send this beautiful butterfly to remind me that I am not alone, that I can still smile despite the tears that plague me, to remind me that there is always hope and that joy is still possible?

God is God of miracles and I believe he sends us what we need at the exact right moment.

Thanks be to God, Our Father who is always with us, who always shines a light in the darkness.

Perhaps even sending a reminder on the wings of a butterfly.. . .

Jenny W. Andrews copyright 2024