The Lesson of the Butterfly

The Lesson of the Butterfly

““For I reckon For I reckon that the that the

sufferings of sufferings of this present this present time are not time are not worthy to be worthy to be

compared with compared with the glory which the glory which

shall be shall be revealed in us.”revealed in us.”

““For I reckon For I reckon that the that the

sufferings of sufferings of this present this present time are not time are not worthy to be worthy to be

compared with compared with the glory which the glory which

shall be shall be revealed in us.”revealed in us.”

ROMANS 8:18ROMANS 8:18

I had kept the cocoon of a butterfly for nearly a year, when one day I noticed with excitement that the little insect was beginning to come out.

The cocoon was very peculiar in its construction. There was just a very narrow opening left in the neck of the flask, through which the perfect butterfly would have to force its way.

Such a small opening compared to the size of the imprisoned insect made me wonder how the exit could ever be accomplished at all!

I had kept the cocoon of a butterfly for nearly a year, when one day I noticed with excitement that the little insect was beginning to come out.

The cocoon was very peculiar in its construction. There was just a very narrow opening left in the neck of the flask, through which the perfect butterfly would have to force its way.

Such a small opening compared to the size of the imprisoned insect made me wonder how the exit could ever be accomplished at all!

I watched it patiently striving and struggling to get out.

It never seemed to be able to get beyond a certain point, and at last my patience was exhausted.

I thought that I was wiser and more compassionate than its Maker, and I resolved to give it a helping hand!

I watched it patiently striving and struggling to get out.

It never seemed to be able to get beyond a certain point, and at last my patience was exhausted.

I thought that I was wiser and more compassionate than its Maker, and I resolved to give it a helping hand!

With the point of my scissors I snipped the confining threads to make the exit just a

little easier...

With the point of my scissors I snipped the confining threads to make the exit just a

little easier...

I eagerly waited to see the marvelous process of expansion in which the wings develop before one’s eyes. I longed to see them assume their due proportions and the creature to appear in all its perfect beauty.

I eagerly waited to see the marvelous process of expansion in which the wings develop before one’s eyes. I longed to see them assume their due proportions and the creature to appear in all its perfect beauty.

But I looked in vain!But I looked in vain!

... And lo! Immediately, and with perfect ease, out crawled my butterfly... dragging a huge swollen body and little shriveled wings!

... And lo! Immediately, and with perfect ease, out crawled my butterfly... dragging a huge swollen body and little shriveled wings!

My poor butterfly My poor butterfly was never anything was never anything but a stunted but a stunted abortion, crawling abortion, crawling painfully through painfully through its brief life which it its brief life which it should have spent should have spent flying through the flying through the air on rainbow air on rainbow wings!wings!

My poor butterfly My poor butterfly was never anything was never anything but a stunted but a stunted abortion, crawling abortion, crawling painfully through painfully through its brief life which it its brief life which it should have spent should have spent flying through the flying through the air on rainbow air on rainbow wings!wings!

I learned later that the great labor and difficulty in passing through such a narrow opening is nature’s provision for forcing the juices into the vessels of the wings, which aren’t totally developed at the period of emerging from the chrysalis.

I learned later that the great labor and difficulty in passing through such a narrow opening is nature’s provision for forcing the juices into the vessels of the wings, which aren’t totally developed at the period of emerging from the chrysalis.

My false tenderness My false tenderness had proved its ruin.had proved its ruin.My false tenderness My false tenderness had proved its ruin.had proved its ruin.

I now look back and think of it often, when watching with pitiful eyes those who are struggling with sorrow, suffering and distress; and feel tempted to cut short the discipline and give deliverance.

I say to myself:“Shortsighted man! How do I know that one of these pangs or groans could be spared?”

I now look back and think of it often, when watching with pitiful eyes those who are struggling with sorrow, suffering and distress; and feel tempted to cut short the discipline and give deliverance.

I say to myself:“Shortsighted man! How do I know that one of these pangs or groans could be spared?”

I asked for Strength,I asked for Strength,And God gave me And God gave me Difficulties to make Difficulties to make me Strong.me Strong.

I asked for Wisdom, I asked for Wisdom, And God gave me And God gave me Problems to Solve.Problems to Solve.

I asked for prosperity I asked for prosperity And God gave me And God gave me Intelligence and Intelligence and Muscles to work.Muscles to work.

I asked for Strength,I asked for Strength,And God gave me And God gave me Difficulties to make Difficulties to make me Strong.me Strong.

I asked for Wisdom, I asked for Wisdom, And God gave me And God gave me Problems to Solve.Problems to Solve.

I asked for prosperity I asked for prosperity And God gave me And God gave me Intelligence and Intelligence and Muscles to work.Muscles to work.

I asked for I asked for Courage... Courage... And God gave And God gave me Obstacles to me Obstacles to Overcome.Overcome.

I asked for I asked for Love... Love... And God put And God put people with people with problems in my problems in my path for me to path for me to help.help.

I asked for I asked for Courage... Courage... And God gave And God gave me Obstacles to me Obstacles to Overcome.Overcome.

I asked for I asked for Love... Love... And God put And God put people with people with problems in my problems in my path for me to path for me to help.help.

I I didn’t get exactly what I asked.

I I didn’t get exactly what I asked.

But I receivedall that

I needed!

But I receivedall that

I needed!

We all need to We all need to experience experience challenges and challenges and difficulties in our difficulties in our lives.lives.

If God would allow If God would allow us to live our lives us to live our lives without obstacles, without obstacles, we would be weak. we would be weak. And we could never And we could never gain the strength of gain the strength of character He needs character He needs us to have in order us to have in order to succeed in life. to succeed in life.

We all need to We all need to experience experience challenges and challenges and difficulties in our difficulties in our lives.lives.

If God would allow If God would allow us to live our lives us to live our lives without obstacles, without obstacles, we would be weak. we would be weak. And we could never And we could never gain the strength of gain the strength of character He needs character He needs us to have in order us to have in order to succeed in life. to succeed in life.

We could never fly!We could never fly!We could never fly!We could never fly!

Our Father’s Love is Our Father’s Love is too true to be weak.too true to be weak.

Our Father’s Love is Our Father’s Love is too true to be weak.too true to be weak.

“There is always the hope of tomorrow to brighten

the clouds of today.

There is always a corner for turning no matter how

weary the way.

“There is always the hope of tomorrow to brighten

the clouds of today.

There is always a corner for turning no matter how

weary the way.

Just look ahead to tomorrow and trust that you’ll find waiting there, the sunlight that seemed to be

hidden by yesterday’s clouds of despair”

Just look ahead to tomorrow and trust that you’ll find waiting there, the sunlight that seemed to be

hidden by yesterday’s clouds of despair”

Jesus is our very present help in trouble. Jesus is our very present help in trouble. If you haven’t yet accepted Him as your If you haven’t yet accepted Him as your personal Savior, you can do it right now by personal Savior, you can do it right now by

praying this simple little prayer:praying this simple little prayer:

Jesus is our very present help in trouble. Jesus is our very present help in trouble. If you haven’t yet accepted Him as your If you haven’t yet accepted Him as your personal Savior, you can do it right now by personal Savior, you can do it right now by

praying this simple little prayer:praying this simple little prayer:““Dear Jesus, I need you Dear Jesus, I need you in my life. Please come in my life. Please come

into my heart, forgive all into my heart, forgive all of my sins & give me of my sins & give me

your free gift of eternal your free gift of eternal life. I commit my life and life. I commit my life and all of my cares to you . all of my cares to you .

Help me to grow close to Help me to grow close to you so that I can be a you so that I can be a

blessing to others. blessing to others. Amen.”Amen.”

““Dear Jesus, I need you Dear Jesus, I need you in my life. Please come in my life. Please come

into my heart, forgive all into my heart, forgive all of my sins & give me of my sins & give me

your free gift of eternal your free gift of eternal life. I commit my life and life. I commit my life and all of my cares to you . all of my cares to you .

Help me to grow close to Help me to grow close to you so that I can be a you so that I can be a

blessing to others. blessing to others. Amen.”Amen.”

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