My baby sister is “growing through” a rather difficult season in her life. While in the car yesterday, she asked me this question: “Why is it such a struggle..the process of making a new life? Everything that I am trying to change or get away from..just keeps coming. I don’t understand.” I understand the frustration. I’ve been there a time or two myself. I also think that I understand why the fight is necessary. I learned this one as a little girl..only I didn’t really understand it then.
When my sister and I were younger, we would spend a lot of time at my grandmother’s house. Those days were always filled with some sort of adventure. One summer, the adventures included the discovery of a rather large cocoon. We were fascinated by it. We spent many days just watching it, because we knew that something beautiful was sleeping inside. Something that was transforming. Becoming. Changing. But as the days passed, we grew impatient. We were children after all, with no understanding that change takes time. So one day, we decided to liberate the butterfly from it’s silken prison. We made a large hole and waited. But the butterfly never flew out. I never understood why the butterfly didn’t emerge until much later in my life. And the lesson..well..that has stayed with me all through the years.
A butterfly must fight it’s way from the cocoon so that it’s newly formed wings are strong enough for the flying. And that is what I shared with my sister. Transformation takes time. And the struggle? Necessary. Life changing. Strengthening. No one can liberate you from that cocoon dear sister. You have to fight your way out so that your wings ares strong enough to take flight.
beautiful and perfect.
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