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Give Thanks FOR Everything—A Kingdom Mystery

Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Ephesians 5:20 CSB

     “Mom, I don’t know what to do.” My son sat beside me on the deck swing and stared into the darkness. A family crisis had turned his world upside down. My mama heart wanted to fix it. Not possible, not by me. Only God.

     The metal butterfly attached to my iron flower pot jiggled in the soft breeze. My thoughts entered another time---another world years earlier when I’d basked in deep, intimate worship alone.

     With my natural eyes closed, while lying on the sofa, a picture had formed before my spiritual eyes. I’d seen Jesus walking in a meadow of purple flowers with various colored butterflies everywhere. He’d  held the hand of a little girl, who had long black hair that flowed down her back.

     Jesus had picked up the little girl and had lifted her high in the air and then caught her again. When she had giggled, I’d giggled on the sofa. It felt as if I’d been translated back in time, maybe even before the foundation of the world before I was born. Surprised the little girl was me, I’d sat motionless on the sofa and had watched as she’d slipped to the ground and had looked up into His eyes.

     “My little butterfly,” His words had vibrated with an intense love that I ‘d felt in every fiber of my being. As I’d stared in wonder, I’d somehow known that this frequency---this love frequency---had released a mystery within me that waited to be discovered. Then He’d turned and had started to walk away.

     “Don’t go.”

     For an  instant he’d looked back. “Don’t worry. I’ll always be watching,” and had disappeared.

     While I stood on the deck, my heart warmed at the memory, even though my stomach felt sick and knotted. I looked out at the glittering stars against the dark sky. Their twinkles awakened a hope that maybe, just maybe, His light would shine on me and my son and reveal that mystery waiting to be discovered for such a time as this. I glanced  at my son, who sat in silence. More knots in my stomach. It seemed neither one of us knew what to say or do.

     The crickets and locust praised their creator in the distance as I straightened the metal butterfly. Moon beams reflected off the silver and purple paint and cast a shimmering light on my face. Butterflies.

     At that moment, I remembered the gasp I’d made in a movie theater at the sight of a butterfly that had fluttered before a dying little girl as she climbed an old tree in the movie, Miracles from Heaven. Along with my gasp, an unexplainable, deep pain within had arisen. At first, a few tears had flowed, then more and more. I’d sniffed back the muffled sobs and scrambled to find a tissue as I’d watched the girl tumbled down inside the trunk of the old dead tree.

       She had passed from this earthly  dimension to the heavenly Kingdom where butterflies fluttered in a meadow. It had looked like the same place where years earlier Jesus had called me his little butterfly. At the sight of that meadow more sobs had erupted. I’d wanted to run out of the theater and hide. Instead, I’d waited for everyone to exit and gathered the courage to leave.

     While standing on the deck in the dark, my son sitting behind me broken and hurting, those same sobs threatened to erupt. What are  you trying to tell me? Why these memories?

     I rubbed my finger against the metal butterfly as my thoughts drifted back to that night when I returned home from the theater. I’d walked passed my husband with instructions not to talk to me. Jesus had wrapped his little butterfly in His protective love cocoon. Nothing must disturb my time with  Him.

     I’d waited in quietness in my faithful Jesus chair, not moving a muscle. After a while, I’d picked up my Bible and it had  flopped open. I’d looked down at the underlined verse, Ecclesiastes 11:3. “He has made everything beautiful…”

     Jesus, you have captured your little butterfly’s attention. I love you. What are you trying to tell me? I’d  closed my eyes and waited. Nothing mattered, except to be still and enjoy His Holy presence.

     Be thankful, Linda, my beautiful butterfly,  I have already made something beautiful out of every single thing  you encounter on this earth. It is finished. All things are made new and beautiful, no matter what you see in the natural.

     Pictures passed through my mind of the sexual abuse as a child.

     Even that?

     I was there. I never left you. You would not be able to speak to other hurting girls, if you had not suffered in that way.

     Thoughts of the 15 years I’d cried over negative pregnancy tests came to mind. Even this?

    You wouldn’t have the three sons you adopted, if you’d conceived. They needed you. You were chosen to be their mother. My ways are not your ways.  

     After that night, I began to thank God for everything, even if it appeared to be evil or hurtful. It brought such freedom knowing that He saw all and had already made something beautiful of it. The more His little butterfly understood her Creator’s love, the easier it became and the freer she flew.

      Another gust of wind disturbed the purple butterfly beneath my hand. Yes, your little butterfly hears. How could I have forgotten? You have already made something beautiful of this situation. That’s the hidden mystery.

     For a while I sat with Josh and listened to the songs of the night creatures as they celebrated their creator. Thank you, Jesus, that you have already made something beautiful of this situation. Forgive me for forgetting this wonderful mystery. Finally, I broke the silence.

     “Josh, the only thing I know tell you is what God has taught me. You may not understand this now, but it’s true. Be thankful. He has already made something beautiful of all this. I don’t know how, but he has. We just aren’t seeing it, yet.”

     After that, the crisis worsened. I admit my flesh struggled with believing what I told Josh. On one of those difficult days, God reminded this little butterfly to be thankful. I’ve got this. All is well. There’s something about hearing directly from my loving Father that brings peace. A short time after that, the situation turned around.

     God has many mysteries in His Kingdom. This is one I found on my journey. Your journey is designed by your Creator and is unique to you. If you need a listening ear or prayer, please contact me: linda@thelionandthebutterfly or 620 255 6161. Let me know what mysteries you find---Or, the struggles you encounter. We all have them. Enjoy exploring as you wait in quietness in His presence with a grateful heart.

     This is why the scriptures say: Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine---these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers. But God now unveils these profound realities to us by the Spirit. Yes, he has revealed to us his inmost heart and deepest mysteries through the Holy Spirit, who constantly explores all things. After all, who can really see into a person’s heart and know his hidden impulses except by the spirit? So it is with God. His thoughts and secrets are only fully understood by his Spirit, the Spirit of God, I Corinthians 2:9-11 (TPT).

Until next time,

Linda Fergerson, His Little Butterfly