*Follow these links to read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of the story
In the summer of 2010 – almost
two years after my dad’s death; Dave, myself and the boys had gone down to help Joyce at their home in KY and celebrate July 4 at the lake.
I was working on putting in a small brick wall to hide the underneath of a shed from the waterside view of the house. As I was putting in the first
layer of bricks to create the foundation, along my right shoulder came this
beautiful, yellow butterfly. It flew in front of me almost to say,
‘make sure you see me,’ and lingered in front of me along the wall of the shed
and soon flew off to my left and I never saw it again. I couldn’t
believe it!! I have never seen a butterfly in the back yard that I remember for
the last 20 years that I had visited there. I felt the Holy Spirit’s
special touch in that moment. You see God controls nature and I know
in my Spirit, He did that for me to let me know my dad loves me and would be
very proud of my work on that wall and even more importantly for the love my
family and I showed Joyce in coming and the love we continue to show
her. You see I genuinely love her with a love only God could put in
my heart. I rushed to tell her the story and we both marveled at God’s
special touch and how He did that for me showing His love for me in the flight
of one of His butterflies. God’s "winks" again...
A couple weeks later I visited my
niece in NJ and one of Joyce’s friends, Bill and Kathy who also live in
NJ. We
arranged to have lunch together at Kathy's home.
I had always felt “close“ to
Kathy from the first time I met her but didn’t truly understand that connection
until our lunch when over conversation I discerned she knew our Lord personally
– we shared the Spirit!!
Over lunch we talked about dad,
my family, her family and other stories. One of the stories was the
importance of butterflies in my Dad and I’s relationship over the
years. After lunch, she showed me her yard and we settled on the
back porch to talk. Our conversation ended up discussing more about
dad, our faith, and just life. At one point, around Kathy’s right
shoulder flew a yellow butterfly, yep YELLOW!!! Oh my gosh, I had just shared
with her the story between my Dad and me over the years and here comes a yellow
butterfly. She had never seen a butterfly in all the years they have
lived in NJ and it was yellow. We both were marveling at the
power of our God and the fact He would share His love to both of us through
this moment. It truly was amazing.
My God "winked" again
through a butterfly!!
Who knows where my mighty
God’s loving hand will show up again in the form of a butterfly but Joyce has
carried on the story in her own loving, special way. She gave me a
card that opened up, like a pop up, with little white butterflies “flying” in
the card. It was truly beautiful. She hoped I
didn’t mind but she instantly thought of me when she saw the card and had to
send it. Of course I didn’t mind her showing me love in such a
special way and carrying on the story. It was her turn!
I guess it is my turn now and
always God’s turn!!
May you rest in the comfort of the knowledge of His
great love for you first shown on the cross at the death of His son, and if you
have accepted this provision and know Him, you experience His love everyday as
He cares for you in your own special story.
And so God winks... ;)
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| by Joni Ormsbee |
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