“The Wings of A Butterfly”


The wings of life are represented unmistakably in the butterfly. One of the Lords most incredible works of life from whence it came and what it is to become. So it is with the transformation of life with the Lord. This is about the same transformation that he made in me and others to whom the story was told.


In my sixty years of existence on this planet, I have had three of my most immediate family pass through the gateway to the Lords home. Intrinsically each had their own impact on my own life and those who are yet to see, the immeasurable Love and messages that are shown in our most innate moments unmistakably given to us by our creator through His Son Jesus Christ.


After the passing of two children my wife and I began to notice the presence of two butterflies that showed up in relative frequency in our yard. The unusual part of this presence was the fact that these butterflies were dressed in the most vibrant yellow I have ever seen. It was almost iridescent. Not a single mark, just purely a yellow not on any palette I have ever seen. While frequenting a farmers market on a Saturday morning, my wife was expressing her encounter with these beautiful creatures to the plant lady from whom we were purchasing an orchid. During the course of the discussion a lady in line said that it would be impossible to see such a pure yellow unless we had lost a child, further to see two would be out of the question. Then the question came, have you lost two children? We were both lost for words as this entire moment had more gravity to our soul felt feelings than was expressible.


As time went on these appearances became more frequent and would come almost on a wish. I would even see them fly in the rain, which is something that I do not even know if it’s possible for such a creature, unless it has been endowed with some greater purpose, of which anything is possible with the Lord.


My wife at forty seven years old was to pass unto the arms of her creator six months later. The loss of our oldest son Kenton at twenty six was the final straw that broke her heart, one of the yellow butterflies. The other butterfly represented Brittany who had passed on to her father in heaven some twenty years earlier. When Brittany passed, I was the one who found her floating in the water in which she had drowned. At thirteen months old there was no reason for this in anyone’s mind. However the Lord changed my life at this point and told me that it was alright, she was with Him and I was to be the glue that held the fabric of our family together. For this I have been ever grateful and in the knowledge that the Lord has His own purposes for our life if we would only listen and obey.


As I Told this story at my wife’s celebration of life at our church, there was a lady in the audience that had lost her son months earlier. I am sure that she thought I was a little off center as I told this story. A month later after returning home from a trip overseas at the Wednesday night church dinner she asked to speak with me. She said with tears rolling down her cheeks, that a yellow butterfly had come to be with her in the garden where her son used to lay out when he was home. It was of the same color and unmistakable brilliance. She asked me what I thought of this. In a heartfelt and somber response I told her she was a lucky dog. What she replied? I said now you know what said is true and the Lord has come to you to bring his message of grace and mercy to others.


It is His purpose and His plan if we listen and acknowledge that there is only one way home. Through His Son Jesus Christ who imparts such miracles every day in everyone’s life. It’s as simple a blessing as a simple breath of air that we take in thousands of times each day. Transformation through salvation, by affirmation, is the Lords way.