I followed this little beauty around the garden, as he flitted here and there. There’s something so beautiful about that flash of white in a garden filled with green. I immediately assumed he was a moth, but a little research told me that he is a Cabbage White Butterfly. And I know he is a he because the males have one spot on their wings and the females have two.
I love learning something new.
You know how, as a child, you learn all about caterpillars turning into butterflies or moths? That’s the kind of thing I know but forget to know. I know it, I’ve learned it, but I forget about it on a daily basis. So I see a caterpillar and think “How neat!” but I don’t take that thought further and wonder about what kind of butterfly or moth will eventually emerge from that body. I tend to see caterpillars and butterflies as separate entities, forgetting all about the miracle of transformation that occurs.
Then something suddenly reminds me that the funny little caterpillar will eventually change to a pupa, a chrysalis from which a butterfly or moth will emerge.
It really is a miracle, isn’t it? How can that fuzzy caterpillar transform itself into a butterfly? How can something that walks around by using its many legs transform itself into a magical being that flies?
It gives us hope – hope for a our own particular transformation. Hope that our inner butterfly will emerge triumphant to grace the world with its beauty. That we will have moments when we leave all that is hurtful and negative and harmful and fearful behind as we rise above it all and fly.
Miracles happen every day.
Happy Monday.
Mereknits says
Beautiful post my wonderful sister. Hoping I transform soon.
Mere
Cranberry Morning says
It is a comfort to know, isn’t it, that there is hope.
I also would have thought that was a moth, although the long antennae would suggest a butterfly. Glad you looked it up, or I probably would have. lol Beautiful photo, Claudia.
What delight something like that sweet little creature can give us. A reminder of a Creator who cares about us.
Jill says
This post is beautiful, Claudia. It touched my heart on a very personal level, and was just what I needed to read this morning. Thank you, sweet friend.
Hugs,
Jill
Linda @ A La Carte says
Beautiful post! We do need to remember there are miracles all around us! hugs, Linda
Elaine @ Sunny Simple Life says
Yes I think we are always changing. Hopefully into something good right?
Nola says
What a lovely thought, so well said. Hope my butterfly emerges soon! Have a wonderful Monday.
missy max says
My dog loves to chase them…
missy max says
My dog loves to chase them…
LuvWheaties says
I always forget that butterflies evolve from caterpillars. I wonder why that is. It really is an interesting process, isn’t it, and a great metaphor. Beautiful, thought-provoking essay today, Claudia.
Sandy says
Beautiful post Claudia! Love the metaphor about transformation and it gives me hope too!
Rizzi says
HI CLAUDIA…..LOVELY POST….AND YOUR PHOTO IS GREAT….I NEW THERE WERE CABBAGE MOTHS…….BUT DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THEIR SPOTS….THANKS FOR SHARING……RIZZI
The Boston Lady says
Claudia, you have reminded me of the summer my kids and I raised catepillars on a massive milkweed plant we used to have out front. When they got big and fat, we made a screened enclosure filled with milkweed. They eventually attached to the top of the enclosure and went into a “j” shape, then magically became cocoons, then chrysallises. It seemed like know time that the beautiful Monarch butterflies emerged, dried their wings in the sun and were released back to start the cycle again. It is an amazing process. Thanks for the memory-jog. Ann
Karen says
Thank you, Claudia, for this lovely, hope-filled post.
Cozy Little House says
This is one hell of a beautiful post!
Brenda
Kim@Snug Harbor says
I really liked this post. I feel like I’ve been a caterpillar my entire life and I’m still wondering when I’ll become that butterfly…
Lucille says
That was beautiful, Claudia! Thank you for sharing!