Lessons from the butterfly
This year our family had the joy of meeting, for the first time, a cousin from Wisconsin. She and her husband have a butterfly garden.
Although I enjoy the amazing beauty of butterflies, I confess to not knowing much about them. Over dinner, my cousins shared some basics about this lovely insect. After their visit, I became more observant of butterflies on our farm. We have this attractive bush which seems to be a magnet for yellow and blue butterflies.
The lovely creatures are also attracted to Lantana. (LOTS of butterflies visit my Lantana, but none would pose for pictures–got this photo from Pixabay).
Just a quick lesson on the stages of the Monarch Butterfly (one of the species I’ve enjoyed this summer).
The Monarch has four stages in one life cycle and four generations each year. The stages are the egg, larvae (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and the adult butterfly.*
February and March: The final generation of hibernating Monarchs (from last year) comes out of hibernation to find a mate. They migrate north and east to lay eggs. This is Stage 1 of Generation 1.
March and April: Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed (and I thought this weed had no useful purpose). In about four days, the eggs hatch into baby caterpillars.
In about two weeks, the caterpillar is fully grown and attaches itself to a stem or leaf and begins the process of metamorphosis, using silk to transform itself into a chrysalis.
In a ten day process, the old parts of the caterpillar undergo amazing changes and become the beautiful characteristics of the butterfly that will come forth. The adult emerges and flies away, feeding on flowers and enjoying life for two to six weeks.
The process is repeated in May/June (second generation) and July/August (third generation).
The fourth generation is born in September/October, going through the same stages, but they don’t die after two to six weeks. This group flies to Mexico or California and lives for six to eight months and starts the amazing process over next year.
Isn’t God’s Creation an awesome design?
I’m overwhelmed by our Heavenly Father’s planning and organization. But, of course, you know I want to gain a lesson from this Master planner. What can we learn from the cycle of the butterfly? Upon examination, we have many similarities.
Birth
The butterfly is an awesome creation–and so are we! Just as God thoughtfully and carefully created these beautiful flying insects, His Master hand shaped each of us. We are destined for amazing things!
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14
Caterpillar
We’re in the crawling stage for a while, too. Not only when we are babies, but as we grow and learn in Christ, we “attach” ourselves to Him and grow in wisdom, knowledge, and love under His nurture.
“It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God,’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.” John 6:45
Chrysalis
As we accept the gift of love Christ has given us we are changed, we go through metamorphosis, we become a new creation.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old is gone, the new is here. 2 Corinthians 5:17
How has Christ’s presence in your life changed you? Did you experience a metamorphosis?
Butterfly
Most adult butterflies have a short lifespan, but they make the most of it. They seek to fulfill the purpose God has for them. In the grand scheme of the universe, we also have a short lifespan. It’s what we do with those years that counts!
Are we fulfilling God’s purpose?
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3
Wishing you a blessed week, my friends I hope you see some butterflies!
*www.monarch-butterfly.com My cousins explained the generational cycle of the Monarch, but I also received helped information about butterflies from this website.
Lovely pictures and great information, Katherine. I am trying to plant a garden in my yard that will attract butterflies so I am hoping to see more of them next year. Thanks for sharing!
I hope your butterfly garden does well. I know you will enjoy the lovely butterflies that visit. We have to be very selective in what we plant and choose flowers and shrubs that the deer do not like. Otherwise our yard would be bare!
LOVE this post – the pictures, as well as the lessons you learned and analogies you shared!!! God’s masterpieces never cease to amaze me – I am in awe of His creativity with every creature I encounter!!
Me, too, Julie! God’s creation is so amazing, but I’m saddened by our (all humans) lack of stewardship as we care for (or rather don’t care for) the Earth. I watched a segment of 60 minutes last night, an update on the plastics crisis in our oceans, waterways, and on land. It’s tragic that we produce so much waste and are unwilling to take the responsibility of disposing of it properly. Let’s pray for our planet!
Katherine, your comparison is beautiful. Seeing butterflies will remind me of this post. There are so many lessons in creation!
Thank you for your encouragement, Jeannie. I agree, we are so blessed that God shares the beauty of nature with us and teaches us valuable lessons as well. Wishing you a blessed week!
OMGoodness Ms. Katherine. Loved this post and your wonderful description of how God transforms His children. What a blessing. You’ll understand this one day my friend (Lord willing at Enrich this year), but you’re going to have to be the first to sign my book when it’s published. God’s blessings ma’am.
I like your “OMGoodness” wording (instead of that other 3 letter use), although I’m not much of an abbreviator so I’ll just say, “Oh, my goodness!”–thank you for your encouragement. I’m excited about your upcoming book. I wish I could come to the Enrich Conference (love working with the Kauffman family), but we have one of our annual mission projects that week-end in October and I can’t be away. But, I’m still looking forward to your book–I know it will be great!
I just learned about this cycle a couple years ago when we planted a butterfly garden. My friend in Vermont raises them and then sets them free with research tags. I keep hoping one of her butterflies shows up in my garden 1,000 miles down the migration trail.
I love the way you’ve broken this down. It’s such a great example of our journey with Christ. Breaking out of that shell to become a new creation is difficult. It is difficult, but we emerge something greater that we could have imagined while we were crawling. Thank you.
You said it so well, Joshua. You’ve been on that journey, I think. Wishing you blessings. By the way, it’s hard to imagine those lovely, delicate butterflies zipping about with a tag! Hope you see one.
It’s a tiny little sticker. It doesn’t inhibit their movement or beauty.
It’s for migration study. 🙂
Makes sense that the sticker is tiny! Thank you.
You are so correct in saying that we can become new creatures thru Jesus Christ. I am a perfect example. My old self has and is constantly dying as Jesus replaces it with my new self. Love butterflies and the way they make me smile in all stages of life. Thank you my sister for your beautiful words.🥰
Me, too! And, it’s a good thing that our Lord keeps working on that old self continuously. I had a major metamorphosis many years ago, but I keep needing these “tune-ups” when I slip backwards. I’m so thankful that He never gives up on us. Thank you for your sweet words of encouragement.
The photos are beautiful. I want a butterfly garden. I shared your post.
Thank you for sharing, Jimmie. We have plenty of weeds and flowers that attract butterflies (including that pesky milk weed that’s essential for them), but I’d like to have a “real” butterfly garden so we could attract even more. They’re so lovely. Wishing you a great week of writing at Starbucks.