The Little Things
photo by Larry Westfall
This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. The theme from Resolve, the national infertility organization is “Don’t Ignore” bringing about awareness of infertility and the millions affected by it. As I reflected on their theme this week, I think I’ve come up with my very own theme.
A phrase: He sees, He knows, He cares.
He sees us struggling through the difficulty of growing a family.
He knows the psychological affects of infertility and how they slam us face down.
He cares about the multiple miscarriages we’ve had and the loss of life we’ve encountered.
How do I know?
Well, I believe it’s revealed in the little things.
Allow me to share this story. This experience has nothing to do with infertility, but how God can come in the midst of the details of our lives.
This time last year I lost my mother to complications after a simple surgery. I wrote about it last year, so I won’t go into all the details, but needless to say her hospital stay and death were unexpected.
She was an avid gardener, her tender love and care created a backyard paradise. What took years of daily attention took days for it to deteriorate. Of course, Texas’ record-breaking drought last year didn’t help matters either.
So I was on a mission, to save some of her plants and transfer them to my new garden. It was much ‘grief therapy’ for me, to have the presence of my dog, Clyde and dig in the dirt!
When I’d walk in my Mom’s garden as a young child and even as an adult, she would be quick to point out the presence of a butterfly, she’d exclaim, “Look! Lesli! Look!” There was something about butterflies making her eyes light up.
As I was planting an Easter Lily I received from her memorial service this butterfly came and landed on the lily near me. I mean this winged-baby was C.L.O.S.E. and the closer I got to it, it would not move.
I ran indoors to get Larry and said, “Get your camera! Come and see!” He captured some great shots. Here is one…
As I sat near the butterfly, it would flutter around my head and then land back again on the lily. It would not leave, it lingered. It cared less how close I got to it.
It was in the little things. The love my mother had for butterflies. The way it swirled around me. The way it lingered in my presence. Both Larry and I sensed it was God’s way of comforting me, letting me know He sees, He knows and He cares. The experience is something Larry and I will never forget.
Allow me to fast-forward a year later to just a few weeks ago.
I was out on my porch, sweeping and cleaning my patio. Prepping for my PeeP’s (girlfriends) to come over and celebrate a birthday and dine al fresco. As I was setting up chairs I saw this green, yellow, black caterpillar crawling up the side of the chair. My immediate thought “Eww! Smash it! Kill it!”
But I didn’t, and I’m so glad I did!
(by the way, Nay, if you’re reading this you were sitting in the chair with the caterpillar crawling on it. Ha!)
Low and behold the caterpillar was setting the stage for metamorphosis to become a monarch butterfly.
Again, I ran inside and said, “Larry, get your camera! Come and see!”
As I researched the process of the monarch from caterpillar to butterfly I found it interesting. It’s stated they remain in their cocoon approximately two weeks. If I had my dates right the butterfly would emerge near the anniversary date of my mother’s death.
Again, the little things, He see, He knows, He cares. Take a moment to view the video Larry created of this transformation.
The Butterfly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl0Cn-qWvWo
Remember the Easter Lily I mentioned and the picture of it at the beginning of this post? The one where the butterfly landed? Well, as I walked outside to begin my yard work, I noticed the lily in full bloom on the day marking the anniversary of my mom’s death.
I just smiled.
Is it coincidence or happenstance the lily would be in full bloom on that day?
No.
I believe He is in the little things, the details of our lives. He sees, He knows and He cares for you and for me.
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Scripture for reflection:
He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:4
The Lord will accomplish what concerns me. Psalm 138:8
You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even though I am far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say, even before I say it Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing upon my head. Psalm 139:1-5