Caterpillars to Butterflies

I was about to enter the front door of our home Thursday when something caught my eye- a butterfly. I normally don't notice these little flutter-ers, but something about it made me stop and take notice. You see, it was just flexing its wings. Not flying. Not even having a hint of taking off. Just flexing its wings. It was sitting in the shade of one of our shrubs and seemed to be looking into Ezekiel's window. As I watched that little butterfly just flexing, it seemed as if it was looking into Ezekiel's room and saying, "Your wings are ready! Let's fly!" It sat there for a good 5 minutes and I just watched to see what would happen. It finally took to the air, went around the corner, and out of site.

I went inside and choked back tears at what I had just seen. The last of my "caterpillars" was about to spring from the cocoon, spread his wings, and go forth into the world. This morning I dropped him at his dorm room after praying over him and his two sisters that God would use them mightily for His Kingdom, and walked away in faith that God would answer.

It's the joy and sorrow of every parent. "Train a child up in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6) You spend years training and then let them go. But the joy is in knowing that you have trained them to follow God with all their heart, soul, and strength.

My prayer for all today who are training their "caterpillars" and to those letting their "butterflies" go is that you would trust God to keep them and hold them close as they go. May He use them ALL for His Kingdom wherever they may go.

Doug