John 11:25-26: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'"
Photo Credit: Ed Saternus, Sanibel Island, Fla.
During this Easter season I’ve been thinking a lot about the Monarch butterfly. My mom loved those orange-winged beauties so much. She wore them as earrings, on her t-shirts and even as decorations on her flip flops. A huge picture of a Monarch butterfly that she painted hung over the sofa in her living room for nearly 30 years. And if you weren’t careful, she’d paint one on you too! Ha!
Personally, it’s just fascinating to me that the endangered Monarch migrates 3000 miles from southern Canada and the northern USA to the oyamel fir forests in Mexico each year, laying eggs on milkweed along the way. And the metamorphosis of the golden-spotted chrysalis becoming a butterfly in 10-14 days is definitely an amazing miracle.
No wonder Christians use the Monarch as a symbol for the three stages of Christ -- his life here on earth, in the tomb and upon resurrection. In Mexico when the Monarchs return, the townsfolk celebrate The Day of the Dead because they believe the butterflies contain the souls of their ancestors.
When my mom died, we decided to release Monarch butterflies at her burial. It definitely turned out to be a surreal experience. The butterflies arrived a day ahead of the service packed in dry ice. Each one was pressed flat inside a parchment-like envelop. As we took the envelopes out of the dry ice a half hour before the release, we could watch the butterflies’ spotted wings begin to vibrate slowly.
As the end of the service, my husband and my daughter, who sat off to the side, began playing their guitars and singing my mom’s favorite hymn, “In The Garden.” It’s hard to believe, but suddenly tiny raindrops from somewhere fell on them as they began to sing – only them. I don’t know if the Mexican lore about a soul returning could be true; but when we released our butterflies, mine fluttered near me for a minute then flew over and landed on my mom’s marker as the others soared into the sky.
Mary Elizabeth (Hunter) Zischkau - Warning 1922-2009
Luke 24:6-7: "He is not here; he has risen!"
After thinking about it, I’ve decided this spring I’m going to plant a patch of milkweed in my garden to help sustain the Monarchs — and to help remind me that no matter how long or how hard the journey there is always new life with Christ.
I believe! Happy Easter!
It’ll Be OK.
~~~
“Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.” ~ Charles Schulz
COMMENT: How do you plan to celebrate this Easter?
I love this story. It was beautiful and it made me reflect back to my growing up days on a farm in southern Iowa. My mother always had beautiful flowers and there were always beautiful. Butterflies around them. But she didn’t want us to catch them because she was afraid it would take away from their beauty. I enjoy your stories Jan, they are always such heart warmers to me. Part of my family is a bout an hour from me and the rest of my family is in Arkansas. We are combining our family with my oldest grandson‘s wife’s Family. I will go to Sunrise service in the community I live in and then I’m going to my oldest grandson‘s wife’s family for Easter dinner potluck. Our weather here in SE Iowa is to be sunny And in the 70s. And remembering that Jesus lives, Hallelujah! Blessings Jan……
Hi Jan, love the reference to the stages of Christ's life and the releasing of the Monarchs at your mom's burial. So touching.
Easter activities for me began last night at Holy Thursday services & will continue with Good Friday, Easter Vigil & Easter Sunday. I'm a member of my church choir & we lovingly refer to Holy Week as our Easter season "God-a-thon."
Easter blessings to you & your family.