Follow a Butterfly

Follow a butterfly. Did you know every culture beginning with the ancients believed the butterfly to be the sign of a human soul?

Aristotle named them psyche which means soul.

I believe children, if left to think their own thoughts, know the truth about many things.  Last summer we went on vacation with the Grandkids.  Everywhere we went, a swallowtail butterfly tagged along. 

When we swam in the lake, the swallowtail fluttered about the deck. As we took a boat ride, it sat on the bow. Later we spied it on our walk. It flew in front of us four or five times and rested on a nearby bush and watched us have a picnic. Was it the same winged angel who covered great distances to follow my granddaughter? Maybe it was two or three or even ten who covered the activities of the day.

She said she didn't know where it stayed while she was in school, but it greeted her daily at her home, the soccer field, or her girl scout meeting in the evenings.

I listened but didn't say much. Who am I, I thought, to say what is real and what is imagined in his magnificent mystery we call life?

It didn't matter how many places we explored or miles we covered, Sydney's winged companion followed her.

"That butterfly is my mommy watching over me." She told us more than once. 

Being a realist, I asked her  "...in the fall who will look after you in the winter when the butterfly has gone away?"

Her answer-- "A cardinal Grandma. They are visitors from heaven."

I never see a butterfly that I don't remember my Molly who left us last year or the love I feel for both of them.

What a caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly. 

a quote from Richard Bach.

Why you should plant flowers!

 Flowers are the first plant ancient man cultivated for himself that he didn't need for survival. Isn't that remarkable?

Since the dawn of man, flowers have held a special place in our hearts. We send them to weddings, funeral, and birthdays. We put them on our tables and talk about their smell and shape. They are remarkable onto themselves.

When the first spring bud peeks its nose out of the frozen ground, we can't help but smile. It reminds of us of the renewal of the promise of warmer weather and the pleasant offerings of the earth.

It is the day I go inside, get out my graph paper and begin plotting my garden.

This year, my goal is to fashion a meditation garden. I think I will put it out front and build a small arbor , cover it with grape vines, put rock from the farm as a floor and benches made of planks with legs of tree trunks. I can picture it, can you?

I will fill it with sayings that lift my spirit, such as Follow your dreams, Be Still and Know and perhaps a few more of my favorites.

These projects have a way of growing and taking on a mind of their own, so I won't make too many plans.

My only sister, Sandra, has a spring birthday. We are getting older now. Her birthday reminds me of spring and my mother. Easter was her favorite time of year. When I see little tufts of new grass, Mom comes to mind.

We didn't get to see our mother as an old lady. She died at the tender age of 64. I had to get a lot older to truly realize how young that is. Young folks look at us and think we are old.

I am here to tell you that I still remember something my mother said. She said, "Susan, I still think the same way I did when I was in my thirties. I still have dreams and desires, same as I had then. When I look it the mirror, I am stunned at this aging woman who looks back at me."

The other day, while looking in the mirror, I realized exactly what she was saying.

So, this is my spring thought for you. Plant a flower, or many flowers this spring. Maybe you could plant them in memory of someone you have lost or someone you may have found along your path.

Happy spring. Enjoy the promise it holds for you.

Not only is each spring a new beginning, but so is each morning.

Moore, Oklahoma. My heart bleeds for your loss.

the sky clear and bright
the sun shares her light

clouds gather quickly
the sky dark and sickly

our children  safe at school
life can be so cruel

homes now like erector sets
Moore ,OK, as bad as it gets.

as a fellow American
I will do all I can.

however I can't make a mother smile
or fix devastation mile after mile.

know we are thinking of you
and all you must still do.

Blessings and light to those who are hurting and devastated today. My heart breaks for you.