Mighty Monarch – Breath of Life Women’s Ministries

by Freida Harrison

I stood as still as a statue watching the female Monarch butterfly deposit her eggs on the large milkweed plant in my flower bed. She moved with the grace and ease of a master artist painting a portrait on canvas. Aching to capture the beautiful moment on film, I knew that any movement would frighten her. Therefore, I stood motionless, breathless, etching the memory forever in my mind as the butterfly orchestrated her task of placing the tiny white eggs on the life-saving nourishment of the milkweed plant. This was a rare, enchanting moment.

My typical procedure for locating their eggs is to trek out into the fields searching for an abundance of milkweed. Hours are like minutes when I’m on a quest for Monarch eggs! Each one is a trophy to take home and nurture into an adult Monarch butterfly. Their life cycle is simple: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, adult butterfly. It’s simple in writing, yet complex in reality. Only God could create something that spectacular.

In the caterpillar stage the Monarchs eat, make messes, and molt. They are focused on their needs, and their eyesight is foggy. As I watch them during this stage, I am reminded of my own selfishness in my younger years. I was blind to the needs of others, much like the caterpillars are at this stage.

Each caterpillar grows and grows until the time comes to make its chrysalis. After the beautiful jade and gold chrysalis is formed, the real change begins! Metamorphosis, or total transformation is occurring.
When the metamorphosis is complete, a beautiful orange adult Monarch butterfly emerges from the chrysalis—a total change in look, color, and shape! Now it has wings and goes about the purpose it was created to do: pollination and migration. Looking back at my life, I see a time when I changed from being totally focused on self to emerging as a less-selfish child of God’s and being more focused on him, his love, and opportunities to serve him. I pray that I am allowing Jesus’ light to shine through me with total faith and trust in him, and that I am accomplishing the tasks that God has planned for me. Unlike the butterfly, my metamorphosis is on-going and will not be complete until the moment I leave this life to be with Jesus in heaven. I am thankful for this time of change that is necessary for preparing me to become more like our blessed Savior.

Heavenly Father, thank you for planting me in the middle of the migratory path of these amazing butterflies. I have been blessed by them in many ways—but I realize you know that and put me near them for that reason because you are the true mighty Monarch. Thank you for directing my path to the special friend who taught me how to find and raise Monarchs. How I appreciate the opportunities you have given me to share these incredible insects with many teachers, students, and now my grandchildren; watching those precious faces light-up with excitement and wonder has been a life-changing experience. Please guide me to “pollinate” the world with your love and “migrate” to the people who need to know you as Savior. In Jesus‘ name, Amen.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Eph. 4:22-24 (NIV84)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Cor. 5:17 (NIV84)