Lessons From a Caterpillar
A big change occurred over the weekend in our house. Well, it was a little change that brought big excitement. The caterpillar we found in the back garden and have been diligently feeding with pine branches for the last four weeks spun itself into a cocoon. We are all now quite invested in this process and can’t wait to see the transformation.
I had a thought though last night that went a little like this: “I wish I could be a caterpillar and spin myself into a cocoon and just hide away everything and everyone.” Wouldn’t that be lovely? As a mom who often has littles following her everywhere, time alone to rest is rare. Not to mention time where I can just be still and not have 20 other trains of thought happening at the same time.
But then I remembered what was happening inside that little cocoon. That caterpillar was experiencing some major changes and probably quite a bit of pain. On the outside all looked calm. On the inside however, significant work was taking place.
And suddenly I had a lot of empathy for our little caterpillar friend. I found myself cheering him on. I think this is because my Christian walk kind of feels like a perpetual cocoon stage. A changing and refining, transforming.
I found this kids devotional written by one of my favourite children’s authors Sally Lloyd Jones. It is from her book “Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing.”
“Bless You!
[God said,] “I will surely bless you.” - Genesis 22:17
People say, “Bless you!” when you sneeze. “Bless” has turned into a bit of a feeble word.
But in the Bible it’s much stronger. (And it has nothing to do with sneezing.)
When God promises to bless you, He is saying “I’m going to make you into everything I ever meant for you to be!”
It means God is taking every day and every single thing that happens in it - good or bad - to make you stronger, to mend whatever is broken inside, to change you into the person you were always meant to be.
Just as a caterpillar is totally changed into a butterfly, being blessed means being totally transformed.
God is transforming everything - his broken world - and you.”
Nothing is wasted. He will use it all, even the stuff that hurts, the stuff I would wish away while in the middle. And it is a blessing. All He gives me is a blessing. Without the trials and pain, and yes the toddler following me into the bathroom, I would not be becoming who He always intended me to be.