The wind is warm and muggy and as I am out in the front yard, I notice my friends coming back to the grove.
Yes, you could think I was referring to the wonderful group of women who will be lining up on Wednesday morning at 8:45 a.m., waiting to get in the door of the little church, set their Bibles and purses down, grab their coffee and their roll and head for the table to begin to study God’s word.
I am very excited about Bible study starting up, however, I’m referring to my friends, the monarch butterflies coming back to my grove.
You see, each and every year, Farmer Dean and I do a little welcome dance as we watch hundreds of butterflies migrating south as the winter months approach, and we are in awe at God’s handiwork.
I remember the first time I realized what was happening was about 7 years ago. I was outside in the gazebo reading when I looked up to see one lone butterfly out by my window. I thought it was so beautiful. I headed inside to let our little dog out to play and he ran directly to the grove, began to spin and bark, and out flew a hundred butterflies. I’m not exaggerating. They had quietly, purposefully been posed on our trees and bushes in the grove so that we didn’t see them. But as our dog barked and scared them, they began to flitter about. Benny, the dog and I danced around, shouting, squealing in delight, while the butterflies flittered and zipped about, all the while resting once again on their branches in the grove.
Each year since then, has been a dutiful wait as we watch for their return. But something very sad has happened. Each year has brought our friends back to visit, but each year there are less and less traveling.
Farmer Dean says the sprays, the change in climate, the change in our lifestyle (the bees are going as well!) are creating limited amounts of lovely monarchs.
Today, I opened the door to see a ton of black moths (not so lovely) which Farmer Dean has explained are here to help control the beetles or something, but I’m looking for my friends.
One is flittering about and I exclaim …. “bring them here for a visit. We’ll pray for their safety, their ability to create more, and their ability to live.”
[callout]And just for today, I sit back in my chair and watch … anticipating the beauty of the earth.
Thank you, God, for you have truly made a delight in the monarch. [/callout]
Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”