It was the year 2002, I was a Vice President of a large insurance
agency. I made a lot of money, I had
power, I was well respected in the industry.
I was very involved as a church leader in my church. Folks said I had it all. My dad died the year before and after that I
started thinking about my life. One day
I lamented to my friend, Diana, that all I ever really wanted to be was a
teacher. That was my dream. The years I taught elementary school way back when, were the
happiest and most fulfilling of my life.
Diana was an artist. All she ever wanted to do was teach art. So she completely understood. One day she walked into my office and I knew
something was up. She came in to give
her 2 week notice. She had gotten a new job –
teaching art at a high school. She
brought with her a little box. When I
opened it, I found a beautiful butterfly stick pin. She told me, one day I would fly and I would
be free to be a teacher. The butterfly was to remind me that it would
happen. I believed everyday and wore the
butterfly pin a lot.
Christmas of 2005 a co-worker and friend, Claire, made an exquisite stained
glass butterfly for me as a gift; once again another reminder of my deepest
desire – to be a teacher. Butterflies just kept popping into my life. This butterfly
though, seemed like a promise – be patient, just keep on
holding on to the dream – keep on believing and everyday, I did.
Well, just a few months after receiving that stained glass
butterfly, God called me to be a preschool teacher. Everything just fell into place. Finally, I was free to fly. And I did.
I quit my job, went to school and by Sept. 2006 – I was teaching. I was a teacher!
The butterflies don’t stop there though. The first year my friend Tracey and I were partners,
she gave me a beautiful glass butterfly necklace for Christmas. She didn’t know the Diana butterfly story or
the Claire butterfly story. But this was
another promise. It was a promise of a
partnership that would grow into a friendship where I would be free to be who I was created to be. She accepted me for who I was and how I
was. Good thing!! (I've been told I am not that easy to work with! What??? Who??? Me????) The feelings of acceptance were mutual and God did beautiful things in our lives and the lives of our students. I believe we were all transformed through that partnership.
Butterflies to me are symbols of hope, promise, transformation, faith, dreams come
true and freedom - the kind of freedom that allows a person to be who they are,
who God made them to be, doing what God made them to do for His purposes. Free to fly!!
So the message for each of you today is – there is freedom
in Christ – we have hope in Christ – promises in Christ. And here are some wise words for
you - live carefully – everyday you have a choice on how you live your life – in the
Spirit or not. Beware! you might miss something wonderful that God has planned for you if you are not paying attention.
In Christ ---- you are free to fly and that's real life!
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”
2 Cor. 5:17
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Cor. 3:17
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