My mother-in-law Jane grew butterflies. Yes, it’s true she actually tended and grew butterflies! The Black Swallowtail that has hints of blue on its wings was her favorite.

Swallowtails lay their eggs on parsley, so each year, Jane planted a pot filled with parsley in her backyard to attract these beautiful creatures. This activity became a family tradition.

Jane and the grandchildren checked the parsley for little white dots (eggs), and when they found a dot, they carefully tore off the parsley sprig. The sprig was gently transferred to a fishbowl lined with flat, rounded-edge marbles, and Jane inserted a wooden stick. She and the grandkids put a piece of thin netting on the top of the bowl and secured it with a rubber band around the lip. Jane said that the flat marbles were important because the butterfly’s wings were very delicate, and when they emerged, part of the process was to sit on the marbles at the bottom of the bowl and flap until their wings dried. The rounded, flat marbles protected their wings from being damaged.

The kids waited for the magic to happen! But they did not have to wait long for a small caterpillar to emerge from those eggs. Those caterpillars hatched into a wonderful, safe place with lots of yummy parsley to feast upon and the netting also kept them safe from predators. The grandkids loved checking on a caterpillar’s progress and got so excited when the caterpillars climbed the stick, went still, and started to form a chrysalis. The kids were fascinated. They wanted to return to grandmother’s house as often as possible to see the butterflies emerge.

It was rare that the grandkids witnessed the great miracle of nature when the butterflies emerged from the cocoon. Still, Grandmother would keep the butterflies safe in the bowl after they emerged and until the kids arrived to see these beauties. Then, in almost a ceremony, as a family, they went into the yard to set the butterflies free, cheering as they took flight.

One year, one of the butterflies did not emerge from its cocoon. Grandmother kept that fishbowl intact. When the kids asked if they could cut the butterfly free, she said no, “Let’s just wait and see what happens.”

Thanksgiving came, then Christmas, then New Year’s, then Valentine’s Day…the cocoon looked healthy but was dormant, so Jane left it on the table. Just before Easter that year, something magical happened…the cocoon started to come alive and change colors. Soon, a beautiful butterfly emerged. We were all amazed that it lasted through the winter! This was the season’s first butterfly, and that memory is so special that even though many years have passed since she took flight, none of us have ever forgotten her story.

All things and all creatures on earth are connected to God, and God knows the right time for us to bloom.  

Since this time with Jane, I learned that her instinct not to cut the butterfly free was the right thing to do. Why? If you cut a butterfly free too soon from its cocoon, it will die. The butterfly is meant to experience the benefits it gains from the struggle of emerging—it needs to go through a full process. Through that struggle, its wings become strong enough to handle the winds.

I know that sometimes in my life, I have wished for someone or something to cut me free from my own struggles. I have begun to realize that no one can, could, or should cut me free. There have been times when I have watched my loved ones struggle, and I wanted to help them. But now, through this lesson from a butterfly, I realize the beautiful power of struggle, which is simply meant to strengthen us.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans, 12:2 NIV