It seems like life goes from hard to harder sometimes. I feel like I could roll over in my bed and just forget about even getting up in the morning. With the dog looking up at me to be fed, I know it’s inevitable, I will just have to face the day square on.
I recall a sermon my pastor gave once, in which he shared a story of a small boy who had a chrysalis of a butterfly. The boy watched it day after day, waiting to witness the emergence of the new butterfly. One day he noticed the chrysalis was opened, and the butterfly was struggling and struggling to get out. The boy felt so bad for the butterfly, so he tore the chrysalis a bit to help him out. Alas, the butterfly emerged, but something was wrong, the wings would not open, and soon the butterfly died.
It is important for the butterfly to struggle through a small opening in order to squeeze the blood into the wings so it can fly. Without the struggle, you have no circulation.
the application of his story was of course, how our struggles as a necessary part of our lives. Struggles are also necessary for our children s’ lives as well, if we take care of every situation they come up against, we will do the same thing the boy did with the chrysalis, well meaning, we try to help, but hinder their personal growth.
I have been thinking about the many people who face many hard challenges, from financial hardship, the Hurricanes, joblessness, loss of family members, relationship difficulties…
My petty hardships pale in comparison. I have so much to be grateful for. We have so much to be grateful for. If you are able to read this, you have a computer, you can read… you have your sight.
I am glad my dog convinced me to drag my carcass out of bed and face the day today, It turns out I came to some pretty important conclusions about how thankful I am that our Lord keeps up my circulation, and teaches me how to be thankful at the same time.
| 1Pe 1:6 | In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, |
| 1Pe 1:7 | so that the proof of your faith, {being} more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; |
| 1Pe 1:8 | and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, |
| 1Pe 1:9 | obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. |
| 1Pe 1:10 | As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that {would come} to you made careful searches and inquiries, |
| 1Pe 1:11 | seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. |
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Well put. It is all in how you see your situation. Attitude, though it is a small matter, has a hugh affect on ones behavior. It reminds me of a story I once heard. A king who was very unhappy received the following advise. Find the happiest person in your kingdom and put on his shoes and you yourself will become happy. Thus the search began. At last they found such a man. At once the man was placed in front of the king and searched. Upon close inspection it was evident to all, that though this man was happy he was to poor to posses any shoes.
I’m here at last!
I love that story of the butterfly. Butterflies have always been symbols of personal renewal for me, but I love that they also exemplify the need for struggle in renewal and growth.
And I’m glad your dog dragged you out of bed to share here.