I look forward to the fall. Every year I wait for it like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. I love the big, bright, clear, blue Texas skies. The air is cool and crisp and the leaves begin to change to deep red, vibrant yellow, and burnt orange. The holiday season is on the horizon and I look forward to cooking, spending time with loved ones, and a house full of yummy scents. It seems, however, that every fall, my favorite time of year, I experience stresses.
About two years ago, a very dear friend suddenly lost her sister in a tragic accident. She was a beautiful 30-something with her entire life ahead of her. At that time, Scott was traveling a lot. His co-worker was on a business trip and no one could reach him. Unfortunately, the man had a heart attack in his hotel room and had passed away. All I wanted to do was crawl in a hole and hold my family hostage keeping everyone safe and in a controlled environment. I wanted to keep everyone away from all the yucky stuff going on so that I could continue to love on and enjoy them; so I didn't have to possibly face horrific trials like those around me were experiencing. During that time I had to ask myself, "Do I love this life and the things in it more than God?" I wondered if I loved the safety I found and created in this life more than the hedge of protection He was willing to give to me. All I needed to do was trust Him.
This fall is no different than two years ago or the many I have experienced in which trials existed for that matter. Everywhere I turned there was talk of Ebola and the destruction it caused and all I could see were the crazy flying spider webs that come to North Texas this time every year (Texas is a crazy place. I know this.). But, today was different. Today, as I took the boys to school I questioned myself again: "Do I love this life more than Jesus?" I headed home by myself in the car and pondered that question.
As I was driving down our little road it was like someone took a box of beautiful monarch butterflies and released them right before me. There were so many flying around it stopped me and got my attention. I continued driving and continued to see more butterflies. You see, monarch butterflies migrate south through Texas this time every year (thank you, Little Einsteins, for the preschool butterfly lesson). In the midst of all the darkness, chaos, and flying spider webs, I had forgotten about the butterflies.
I looked up Monarch butterflies and discovered that the name in Homeric Greek means, "rider" or "charioteer." When I think of a charioteer I think of someone charging forth mightily into battle; someone strong and not scared poised in confidence for what is before them. Being referred to as charioteer surprised me because I look at the monarch as gentle yet majestic. I don't see them as powerful yet that is, to me, what their names means.
As I watched to butterflies flutter around my car, I began to remember God's promise. The monarch is so beautiful with intricate detail of symmetry. If God took the time to create such a beautiful whimsical creature why do I not trust Him? Why do I get perplexed when things go awry; when things are completely out of my control? I continued driving and the butterflies continued to fly around me. I remembered God's promises, His covenant, He made with His people. I felt at peace knowing that if He created this tiny being so beautifully with such detail than surely He hadn't forgotten about me; about us. He cares, He loves, He wants what is best even when we think He got it all wrong. I wondered, as I watched these butterflies, if that's how the people felt after the flood when they would see a rainbow. I remembered the covenant God made with His people and the rainbow being their sign. They found peace every time they saw the rainbow just as I found peace every time I saw the butterflies.
I pray everyone finds their butterfly.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. “It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. “When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
Genesis 9:12-17
About two years ago, a very dear friend suddenly lost her sister in a tragic accident. She was a beautiful 30-something with her entire life ahead of her. At that time, Scott was traveling a lot. His co-worker was on a business trip and no one could reach him. Unfortunately, the man had a heart attack in his hotel room and had passed away. All I wanted to do was crawl in a hole and hold my family hostage keeping everyone safe and in a controlled environment. I wanted to keep everyone away from all the yucky stuff going on so that I could continue to love on and enjoy them; so I didn't have to possibly face horrific trials like those around me were experiencing. During that time I had to ask myself, "Do I love this life and the things in it more than God?" I wondered if I loved the safety I found and created in this life more than the hedge of protection He was willing to give to me. All I needed to do was trust Him.
This fall is no different than two years ago or the many I have experienced in which trials existed for that matter. Everywhere I turned there was talk of Ebola and the destruction it caused and all I could see were the crazy flying spider webs that come to North Texas this time every year (Texas is a crazy place. I know this.). But, today was different. Today, as I took the boys to school I questioned myself again: "Do I love this life more than Jesus?" I headed home by myself in the car and pondered that question.
As I was driving down our little road it was like someone took a box of beautiful monarch butterflies and released them right before me. There were so many flying around it stopped me and got my attention. I continued driving and continued to see more butterflies. You see, monarch butterflies migrate south through Texas this time every year (thank you, Little Einsteins, for the preschool butterfly lesson). In the midst of all the darkness, chaos, and flying spider webs, I had forgotten about the butterflies.
I looked up Monarch butterflies and discovered that the name in Homeric Greek means, "rider" or "charioteer." When I think of a charioteer I think of someone charging forth mightily into battle; someone strong and not scared poised in confidence for what is before them. Being referred to as charioteer surprised me because I look at the monarch as gentle yet majestic. I don't see them as powerful yet that is, to me, what their names means.
As I watched to butterflies flutter around my car, I began to remember God's promise. The monarch is so beautiful with intricate detail of symmetry. If God took the time to create such a beautiful whimsical creature why do I not trust Him? Why do I get perplexed when things go awry; when things are completely out of my control? I continued driving and the butterflies continued to fly around me. I remembered God's promises, His covenant, He made with His people. I felt at peace knowing that if He created this tiny being so beautifully with such detail than surely He hadn't forgotten about me; about us. He cares, He loves, He wants what is best even when we think He got it all wrong. I wondered, as I watched these butterflies, if that's how the people felt after the flood when they would see a rainbow. I remembered the covenant God made with His people and the rainbow being their sign. They found peace every time they saw the rainbow just as I found peace every time I saw the butterflies.
I pray everyone finds their butterfly.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. “It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. “When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
Genesis 9:12-17
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