Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. (Nathaniel Hawthorne)
Have you ever chased a butterfly? Without a butterfly net? Usually just as you almost have it, the butterfly flits away to a new spot where it will wave its wings at you. It’s butterfly season here on the farm – especially over in the hayfield where the grasses and wild flowers grow tall. I’ve given up chasing butterflies except with my camera, but at times I like to imagine they flutter along with me as I walk. A winged companion for a few steps before a sweet smelling flower draws them away. 
Butterflies are self propelled flowers. ~R.H. Heinlein
I think most can agree the Lord gave us a very special gift when He gave us butterflies as this beautiful quote says.
Butterflies are God’s confetti, thrown upon the Earth in celebration of His love. ~K. D’Angelo
But wait a minute. Do you have the same feeling about caterpillars? Those wormlike creatures that crawl around on the ground and eat everything in sight, maybe even your favorite flower bush?
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou
“There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.” ~Richard Buckminster Fulle
We can watch a caterpillar inch along the ground and up a stalk to find the perfect leaf to begin the butterfly transformation. You have to admit that the butterfly goes through an amazing transformation from lowly bug to beauty on wing, floating in the breezes. But the Lord knew what was going to happen. And He knows what is going to happen with us too. He knows how we as people can change and be transformed. Where we may see a person of little worth, the Lord looks with a different eye. He knows the beauty of His creation.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)
Caption Game – What was Marley thinking?
Thanks to all of you for the great captions you suggested for my picture of my new dog, Marley staring up at the sky. Your captions made me smile. I liked the one about Marley smelling bacon and seeing Superman or even better Superdog. Here’s one I thought of that nobody mentioned. “Made you look.”
Now what caption would you give the picture up top of my granddaughter looking at the butterfly on her arm? Share your idea in a comment here on this post and you’ll get an entry in a drawing to win a choice of one of my books along with a grab bag book by a different author. If you left one of the neat captions on the dog picture, you can get another entry to increase your chances of winning by leaving a caption on this picture too. Besides, it’s fun and great imagination exercise for our brains.
So what caption do you suggest for the girl and the butterfly?
Thanks for reading. I’m looking forward to your captions. Now I need to think up one too.
Comments 45
look who came to visit
Author
It’s always nice when those butterflies comes to visit, Birdie. I’m always sorry when they fly away before winter cold starts sneaking our way.
“Butterflies are a part of nature and they provide beauty and amazement.” I would be in awe in a butterfly landed on me.
“God blesses us all with His nature and beauty.. butterflies remind us of kindness, peace, and joy!!” I think that if a butterfly landed on me or I caught one it would bring a smile to my face and joy!!
Author
I’m always smiling when a butterfly flies along with me while I’m taking a walk and my granddaughter is definitely smiling here, Andrea. The beautiful insects do give us a touch of joy as they take peaceful flight from flower to flower.
“As if by magic the butterfly lit on my arm and I felt in that moment I was in the presence of something greater than myself.”
Author
Nice caption, Donna. A little magic feeling is nice as is an awareness of the blessings of nature.
Thank you! Butterflies have always seemed a little mystical to me.
With a happy smile, her face was lit,
as on her arm, the butterfly did sit!
Author
You’ve given us a poem, Hope. Love it. She does have the happy smile and the butterfly on her arm.
Don’t fly away – stay.
Author
I can imagine her saying that, Loretta. She was very pleased that the butterfly was hitching a ride on her arm.
Holding still so that it doesn’t fly away!
Author
How long can one little girl stand still? But yes, Janice, she was definitely ready to stand still a while to let the butterfly stay on her arm.
A friend made in nature.
Author
A nature friend, Parthena. Can never have too many friends and butterflies can seem very friendly at times.
I think this butterfly likes me 😊
Author
My granddaughter thought so, Marji. So I’m sure that could be what she said.
Gal: I wonder which relative is checking me out?
Butterfly: I knew you were related to me!
Author
Fun, Megan. You’re the first to give the butterfly a voice and words to say.
I can’t believe this butterfly is sitting on my arm, quick Grandma, take a picture!
Author
That’s exactly what she would say, Connie. These kids are used to people having a phone in their pocket to take pictures of everything!
One of God’s wonders!
Author
Definitely, Ola. And my grand girl looks as though she knows it.
Wish I could fly away with you!
Author
Who among us doesn’t wish we could float along on a breeze, weightless and free, now and again, Jolene? Good caption.
Butterfly Caption–
“Don’t worry; I’ll protect you!”
or
“I knew you’d come back!”
Author
I like that don’t worry one, Suzanne. We do sometimes want to make sure the butterflies make it. They look so fragile and I guess they are. But at the same time when you think about the Monarchs making their migration journeys each year, you know the Lord made them in a unique and tough way.
“Look Grandma! A butterfly landed on my arm! :-)” 😍Psalm 98😍
Author
That might have been what she really said, Emily. She was a little surprised by the butterfly visit.
“Oh, Grandma, it tickles!”
A very pretty girl. Thank you for helping us use our imaginations!
🦋😊🦋
Author
That’s a cute one, Karen. And thank you. This granddaughter has grown up a lot since this picture. She’s now taller than I am and in those interesting early teen years.
It is fun to exercise the imagination now and again.
“Look at one of God’s creations sitting on my arm!”
Author
“All God’s creatures, great and small.” But butterflies are some of the special ones, Melanie. Good caption.
A dainty visitor.
Author
With whisper light feet, Paula. We smack flies and mosquitoes but we welcome butterflies. 🙂
Patience paid off!
Author
Patience is a virtue, Lisa, and it definitely pays off when you’re watching something in the world of nature. I’ve seen some people who get hummingbirds to light on their fingers, but guess I don’t have enough patience for that.
Don’t move, don’t even breathe, Grandma, or we’ll scare it away!
Author
I can see her saying that, Roma. She was very excited when the butterfly landed on her arm. I didn’t tell her it might be because she was smelling sweaty. 🙂 Better to think she was smelling like a flower.