Friday, August 28, 2020

Caterpillar Time!



Psalm 34:19-20
The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

It's August, and that means caterpillar time!  This year, the ravenous little creatures locate themselves in the oak tree above our back deck.  The evidence of their existence drops from the sky and peppers the deck's surface.


What a mess!

Within weeks of the unwanted arrival of caterpillar scat, something else descends onto the deck.  The caterpillars themselves!


Perhaps too satiated from their constant feasting, they can no longer cling to their homes in the leaves.

Most alarming, though, is the thudding sound these creatures make when they hit the deck with a sickening whack.  Oof!  They lie there, stunned and still for up to hours, leaving us to wonder if they are going to rouse from their stupor, or simply give up the ghost right there.

But God has imbued them with a resiliency that is nothing short of miraculous.  As we observe the seemingly dead forms, we see a twitch here, a raised head there, and before we know it, the caterpillars are cruising along the deck without a care in the world, and no worse for wear.

There are those times in our lives as Christians when bad news knocks the wind out of us, leaving us stunned and immobile, feeling hopeless and helpless in light of our situation.  But God won't leave us broken and alone.  He is right there with us to comfort, to heal, to restore us to fullness of life once again.  Sure, it might take some time, a lot more time than it does for our little friends on the deck, but healing will happen when we invite the light of Jesus to shine within us.

The Lord will certainly deliver us.

Amen!




28 comments:

  1. Your last paragraph says it all. There are times when even Christians are stunned and confused about events in their lives, or that of others. I guess this is when we're being tested. When we need to hold on tight to our faith and trust in Him.

    I often ask God why does He test me when He already knows how I will react.

    Any ideas? Maybe my reaction to events is/should be an example to others.

    God bless.

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    1. As cliche as it sounds, Victor, I think the question we might ask at that time is "Why do bad things happen to good people?" I must confess, I've never gone through a rough time without coming out on the other side with my faith strengthened. Even when we think we have truly grown in our faith, God knows we can be stretched even further and better.
      Love and blessings!

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  2. My friend gave me a fennel bulb, which I planted in a container on my deck. It is now covered with caterpillars. I looked them up and they are the big black swallowtail kind. My grandsons and I have been watching them as they grow.

    It sure does seem that there have been a lot of events lately that could leave Christians stunned and motionless. Thank you for the reminder that God is with us. He understands what we do not!

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    1. Absolutely, Laurie! God does understand what we cannot, and He wants us to put our trust fully in Him in all circumstances, maybe especially in those that leave us temporarily stunned and immobile.
      Love and blessings!

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  3. Those caterpillars are some tough little creatures! I pray for the healing for our entire country. Have a blessed day Martha :)

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    1. Yes, Martha, they certainly are tough little guys! And yes, let us continue to pray for healing in our land.
      Love and blessings!

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  4. Do you know what kind of butterflies these caterpillars will become? I hope they are something beautiful that develops out of their ugliness. Yes, we need revival and restoration in our land. Praying for our country constantly, and trust God to work His power to bring healing to our land once again.

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    1. I did try to look these up on Google Images, Pamela, but I didn't see anything that shouted a definitive "yes." I do think they will turn into moths, if I'm remembering what my father told me years ago. And we absolutely need revival and restoration in our country. Let's keep praying!

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  5. Another beautiful lesson for all of us. I am pretty sure we have all been there at one time or another. Our faith will pull us through. xo

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed this lesson today, Terri!
      Love and blessings!

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  6. I'd no idea! Who amongst us can't not identify with this parable of the caterpillar? Oh, BTW. I was able to successfully download the WIX app and enjoying more of yours and Danny's music... all the better to dust by. LOL!

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    1. I'm so glad you liked my little parable here, Myra, and that you are enjoying the music, too! Yes, listening to music always helps when doing chores, that's for sure.
      Love and blessings!

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  7. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this post ma'am. What a wonderful analogy to our lives as Christians. I look so forward the completion of my transformation on that day. :-)

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    1. Amen, J. D.! I'm so glad this analogy struck a true chord with you.
      Love and blessings!

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  8. When we are breathless and feel alone, we know where to look for calming breath and companionship. Our Heavenly Father is there to show us the way forward, love and blessings.

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    1. So well said, Nells. God is our calming breath and our constant companion.
      Love and blessings!

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  9. Your last paragraph spoke straight to my heart! I needed this today. Thank you for your encouraging words!

    Love,
    Annie

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    1. You are so welcome, Annie, and I'm glad the last paragraph spoke so deeply to you.
      Love and blessings!

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  10. I love this illustration and your use of descriptive wording brought me onto your deck. God's lessons are all around us. aren't they? Have a wonderful weekend with your critters!

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed my descriptors, Jean. You know what? Our critters have finally come and gone - no more mess on the deck!
      Love and blessings!

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  11. Interesting post, Martha, creation teaches us many lessons. When I think about caterpillars, I think about how we become new creations in Christ, the old is gone and the new has come (see 2 Corinthians 5:17)!

    Love and blessings!

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    1. Oh, yes, God's creation teaches us many valuable lessons, Kim. Jesus, Himself, used the natural world around us to show us the way to God's Kingdom. And when those caterpillars turn into butterflies? The old is gone, and the new has come!
      Love and blessings!

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  12. I'm sorry I'm late to this post Martha. Diana, our church secretary, is trying her hardest to make sure she has some monarch butterflies. She watched as one of the caterpillars made his cocoon and was so excited but then extremely disappointed when it just fell. I always think of 2 Cor. 5:17 when I think of being changed, of being transformed.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Praise God for His constant affection and loving presence ...

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    2. Don't ever worry about being late here, Bill! I'm sorry to hear of Diana's disappointment over what she imagined would be a butterfly. And these caterpillars we are dealing with will only turn into rather drab and ordinary moths. But yes, the whole transformation process reminds me, too, of the power of the Lord to change us into new creations.
      And to what you've said here, Linda, amen and amen again!
      Love and blessings to you both!

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  14. Such a beautiful analogy, sweet friend. I needed this during a very challenging season. Thank you for reminding me that I will rise again, God will breathe new breath into me, and there is still hope. Many blessings to you!

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    1. Yes, Cheryl, you will most definitely rise again, stronger and better after these trying times. God is always with you!
      Love and blessings!

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