Poison

Dear Brave Butterfly,

Life can be so unfair - disease eats away at someone we love, a friend we once trusted betrays us, people who were supposed to protect us hurt us instead.

When unfairness makes an appearance, forgiveness is a tough pill to swallow.  But the alternative is far worse...

Poison
I can feel the toxins invade
As poison slowly oozes through my veins.

As I look around, there is no one to see
So I wonder, "Who is poisoning me?".

As I unsuspectingly drink it in, it begins to erupt.
It must be secretly planted in my cup.

The poison is spreading like poison ivy
Making me itchy, uncomfortable, and miserable inside.

It makes me want to crawl out of my skin
As I squirm, wiggle, and get more irritated within.

God whispers: "You can make the poison go away.
There is an antidote to living this way.
Unforgiveness is poisoning your soul
As grudges & bitterness plunge you deeper into a hole."

"You think you are hurting the person who hurt you,
But you only hurt yourself as anger consumes."

Life sometimes brings pain and unfairness
But you can chose a better way - forgiveness.

It's the antidote that heals all.
Forgiveness rescues you from the fall.

So let it go and you will see.
Forgiveness is what sets you free.

Honoring the Gift

Dear Brave Butterfly,

Why am I here?  What am I supposed to be doing with my life?  

I don't know about you, but I am still figuring these simple sounding questions out.  

"If you are spending too many days doing things that bring you unhappiness, then you are not honoring the gift of your time on earth.".    ---- Unknown

I can definitely feel the difference between days when I'm using my natural gifts versus days when I'm not.  When I'm not living out of my strengths I feel tired, drained, and my impatience rears it's ugly head much more frequently.

When I focus my time on areas where I am naturally gifted by God, I am more effective and MUCH happier.  

It's a good reminder of how God instructs us to live using our unique spiritual gifts - a powerful yet simple way to honor the gift of your time on earth.

Soaring Butterfly

Dear Brave Butterfly,

Hi friend!  I recently received a letter from a popular pastor Charles Stanley.  He writes about the power of transformation.

"...Colorful butterflies have begun to appear in our gardens.  I love photographing them.  They start out as unattractive caterpillars, slowly creeping and crawling low to the earth.  They are impeded by every rock and blade of grass, and they are in constant danger of attack by hungry birds.  Each will eventually struggle it's way up a tree, finding a leaf, and weaving a chrysalis.  Its life, up to this point, is characterized by toil, labor, and striving.

For weeks or even years, it may appear as if nothing is happening inside the cocoon.  Like the winter landscape - or the outside of Jesus' tomb - things seem lifeless and unchanging.  But beneath the surface, the most amazing transformation is taking place.  Ultimately, a stunning butterfly will emerge.  It doesn't have to crawl back down the tree or worry about being eaten by birds.  It can soar, and it will now be able to fly over anything that was once an impediment.

That's the kind of life God wants for every believer.  He doesn't want us to creep and crawl through life with toil, labor, and striving.  Rather, the Father wants us to soar by the power of the resurrection."

Brick Wall

Dear Brave Butterfly,

Fear.  It has a mind of it's own.  It can distance me from others.  It can take over my life - if I let it.  But truth conquers fear.

Brick Wall
I never intended to build it
It wasn't part of the master design
But slowly it appeared
And now I must claim it as mine

The bricks got laid slowly
Different ones through the years
Each brick designed to protect me
From all my different fears

Fear of rejection, fear of failure,
Fear of judgment, labels, or names
The bricks a self defense technique
To insulate me from pain

As the fears appeared through the years
The bricks stacked even higher
A solid wall built so high
That I am trapped inside

A prisoner inside my own jail cell
In solitary confinement I sit
As the wall grows taller
I begin to holler

Help me God to see the light
I don't want to live this way
But I don't know how to remove this wall
That stands prominently on display

"You must face your fears 
For your fears are lies in disguise
Replace your fears with my truths
And the bricks will fall to the side"

"Your fears of what this world thinks
Hold no power over you
You are my child who is forever loved
The world's view doesn't matter"

"You don't need to fear failure
For my love can not be earned
It is a free, unconditional gift
Provided by my son"

"As you let my love in
The wall will soon come down
For my perfect love conquers fears
And sends them tumbling to the ground"

Slow Down

Dear Brave Butterfly,

Reminder:

You can't be in the moment when you're racing through it.