Faith in God...the appearance of Butterflies..believing in the possiblities...

A Butterfly Lights Beside Us

                                                                                                                                                                                           A butterfly lights beside us, like a sunbeam...
and for a brief moment it's glory
and beauty belong to our world...
but then it flies on again, and although
we wish it could have stayed,
we are so thankful to have seen it at all.


My husband Curt loved butterflies.  Being a 'Music Maker and Piddler of Sorts' he had a passion for fashioning wooden butterflies out of different types of woods and turning them into custom pieces of wearable art.  They were very desired by family, friends and clients who purchased them from his 'Big Daddy Lane Creations' business.  The above poem was always enclosed with each object.  Many times Curt would give them to someone who had given up a loved one to our heavenly Father.  Through this caring ministry, one of which just came naturally to him, Curt began to use his woodworking talents to reach out to God's people.

Over the years there have been acquaintances that have shared stories with us about the appearance of butterflies after giving up their loved one.  We always felt that the butterflies were heavenly spirits that were letting those left behind know that they are with our Father in heaven.

Recently my son Chris experienced such an appearance.

He was working at his job at Lowe's and was conducting a small meeting with his employees, when they started laughing.  Of course he stopped and said "what?"  They pointed to his shoulder and there was a butterfly just alighting there.  He flicked his shoulder and went on and they were laughing again, the butterfly had moved to the other shoulder, then to the top of his head, his nose, and finally the butterfly gently settled on his lips and then flew away!  Somehow Chris finished his meeting and carried on his daily work. That evening he shared his story with his wife Barbara.  It was a very emotional moment for them. There is not a doubt in my mind or theirs that it was Curt. He was teasing his beloved son, just a little bit, and then giving him a sweet kiss before he flew away.  Chris has had a busy summer season at his store, but now he knows without a doubt, that his Dad is just a flutter away saying" take a few minutes son to enjoy and appreciate the beauty that is all around you, I am here beside you." Love Dad

Our friend Dee Lamott had shared this story after her husband Bob had passed away. Someone in the family had asked God for a sign that Bob was okay and would God send a 'white butterfly'.
Not long after Dee was sitting on her porch when a 'white' butterfly appeared and just kept flying around and around.  Dee thought well okay is this for real?  A few days later she was standing in her kitchen washing up the dishes and looking out the window, once again there was a 'white butterfly' flying back and forth in front of the window. It appeared  many, many times after that.  Dee believes it was their sign.  Curt gave her a couple of butterfly pins after she had shared this story. A short time after that a little 'white butterfly' started appearing at our yard and would even venture into Curt's shop when he was out there working.  Curt would always say "hi Bob" .  We saw that little butterfly a lot last summer.

As I sat talking on my porch this morning with our sweet adopted daughter, Robin Spicer Southern, our neighbor Ed's daughter, and her cousin Amy.  Amy shared a similar story.  Her mother passed away not too long ago and while they were at the service both the hospice nurse and her husband locked eyes as they watched a beautiful butterfly float around the room, Amy did not get the experience of seeing this fluttering gracious flower like creature, but she truly believes it was her mother's spirit.  Sometimes you just have a sixth sense about those sort of experiences.

At the beginning of this spring and summer I too had a similar 'little white butterfly' visiting...............it would fly all around the porch in and out amongst the liriope and vinca minor that Curt had planted.  I have my suspicions that Curt's spirit is in so many of  God's creatures that visit the Lane's house.  Why you might ask?  Curt was in tune to nature and his surroundings. Life was his Sanctuary and his spirit is everywhere.

It is comforting to know that God gives us these signs  to let us know that we need to have faith in him, he is watching over us, guiding us, protecting us, and when the time comes for us to join him in his heavenly kingdom, he will walk through the gates with us.  Faith is the key to the Kingdom.
LSL