Butterfly day…

A couple of weeks ago, Parker’s class had butterfly day in his Pre-K class. They had fed caterpillars for weeks…watched them build their cocoons and finally the date was set to let them go. We all met at the park to let them go home where they belonged…and one by one his teacher—who had help strengthen and nurture them…held them out to let them go. Finally, they would get to be where they belonged…where they would thrive…and although they were raised for some time in unideal conditions—they were loved on tremendously while they were in that preK class…but they needed to be let go so they could fly.
The kids were PRECIOUS cheering them on to take flight and “go home”…and then it came time for the final little guy. He was the smallest of all. He was the last to build his cocoon…the last to become a butterfly. He was weaker than the others—and it was precious hearing the teacher talk about this little butterfly who had been a bit behind the others. (I couldn’t help but love him.) It took him the longest to be brave enough to sit on the stick. And it took him the longest to finally fly home…he just sat there–and we all held our breath
I wish I could say he took off and his flight was what my heart expected…but it wasn’t. In fact, he took off and then plopped on the ground. And we all got very quiet. The teacher tried to distract the kids in a different direction as she thought he might not fly. But the kids were determined. They began to cheer “Fly butterfly! Fly butterfly! You can do it! You can do it!”

The kids got louder and louder–and we realized they were not going to be distracted–and we were going to have to let them cheer him on. In that moment—I felt my kids watching and began to think, “Oh no–this might not be good.” But the kids didn’t know any better…they just knew to cheer and believe. And their belief was starting to rub off on me…only I know too much and thought the worst. And just hoped that little butterfly would do the unexpected…only I think I was the only one standing there that didn’t expect him to do anything. The children not only expected him to fly, but the longer he took…the more belief they had…and the more excited they got.

And then he did the unexpected…he flew.

Matthew 18:3-5 “And Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this welcomes me.”