Butterflies and Moths...

This is an excerpt from Trusting God by Jerry Bridges:

One of the many fascinating events in nature is the emergence of the Cecropia moth from its cocoon - an event that occurs only with much struggle on the part of the moth to free itself. The story is frequently told of someone who watched a moth go through this struggle. In an effort to help- and not realizing the necessity of the struggle - the view snipped the shell of the cocoon. Soon the moth came out with its wings all crimped and shriveled. But as the person watched, the wings remained weak. the moth, which in a few moments would have stretched those wings to fly, was now doomed to crawling out its brief life in frustration of ever being the beautiful creature God created it to be.

What the person in the story did not realize was that the struggle to emerge from the cocoon was an essential part of developing the muscle system of the moth's body and pushing the body fluids out into the wings to expand them. By unwisely seeking to cut short the moth's struggle, watcher had actually crippled the moth and doomed its existence.

The adversities of life are much like the cocoon of the Cecropia moth. God uses them to develop the spiritual "muscle system" of our lives. As James say, "The testing of your faith through trials of many kinds develops perseverance and perseverance leads to maturity of our character."

If you have never had the pleasure of reading Trusting God by Jerry Bridges, do not hesitate to pause reading this, run to Amazon and purchase immediately. You will be blessed. 

This story has really stuck with me. I happened to read that portion of the book during one of our trips to Melbourne. It really stayed with me and encouraged me on the days I look up to heaven and ask God why He isn't making things easier for me that day.

It's more loving to stay His hand, that's why. 

I've always called myself a bull in a china shop. I have a mouth and I have not always curtailed my tongue or edited what I let come out. A good friend of mine sent me this thought on suffering from Chuck Swindoll - "Suffering. Down through the centuries it has been God's taming ground for raging bulls. The crucible of pain and hardship is God's school room where Christians learn humility, compassion, character, patience, and grace."

That's me. I've been in God's school room. If you are reading this and you knew me in high school, college, or even in my early 30s, there is a good chance you would not recognize me now. Sure, you'd recognize my features, and realize that I still love some of the very same things I did back then, but I hold my tongue a whole lot more. I used to be quick to judge and justice, yet now I tend to wait a little longer before I make an assessment (not always, but I am still work in progress!). 

And then I look at Zeke. How hard he works. The suffering he goes through constantly to get stronger. Every thing he does is HARD. Holding his head up. Peddling his bike. Standing up. Reaching. Grasping. Even trying to get sounds to come out can be hard at times. Drinking a SIP of water takes extreme concentration. And I can't fix it. I can't do anything to help. I have to let God and Zeke do their thing. Oh, I can encourage. I can be consistent in making sure he does these things. But I can't make it easier. It's excruciating. And you know what is wild. He rarely gets frustrated. He just works. It's amazing. I love this story of the moth b/c it makes me think of Zeke. I can't clip the cocoon. God's doing something here in this boy.

And then I look at sweet Zane. And how I wish I could take these hard things away so life can just be a bit more simple for us. But again, am I willing to clip the cocoon and rob Zane from the life that God is fashioning him to have? All of this is not meaningless. It is doing something. 

I pray I get to see it. In both of their lives. 

On this side of heaven. 

Did I mention we are raising some butterflies right now? So I am really blessed to be reminded of this whole moth illustration on a daily basis as we wait for these beautiful butterflies to emerge.