Yesterday was a “heavy-hearted” day. A dear friend lost her sister.  Also yesterday, another friend lost his mom.  Last night I drove my husband to the airport, after receiving word of his father’s “dire” condition after suffering a heart attack.  Three of my husband’s sisters have had surgeries or hospitalization for illnesses over the last month. Another friend is having trials in her marriage.  A scripture in John 16:33 comes to mind.
  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble…”This is quite true.  In this world we will have trouble.  However, this verse continues – “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Friday night, (Nana and Papa night), I was privileged to meet a butterfly named Sweetheart.  My grand-daughter, Emma, brought her over to our house to continue to care for her.  About three weeks ago, this deeply compassionate eight-year-old found the injured little insect on the ground.  Noticing that it had only one wing and could not fly, Emma brought it in and made it a home in a tupperware container. She named it “Sweetheart” and  surrounded her (Emma somehow knows it’s a girl) with grass, twigs and other plants which she learned were pleasing to butterflies.  Every day she takes it outside to drink sweet nectar from a “butterfly bush”.  This little butterfly has already outlived its normal life expectancy.  It has survived, and dare I say thrived (living with one wing and sitting in a  tupperware container), because of the tender compassion of my granddaughter.  As I think of my trials, and also as I pray for those who are particularly hurting today, I picture one- winged “Sweetheart” being gently lifted onto the nourishment-giving nectar of the butterfly bush.  And she thrives.  I then remember one of my favorite scriptures.

Isaiah 40:10-11
See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
        and his arm rules for him.
    See, his reward is with him,
        and his recompense accompanies him.
    [11] He tends his flock like a shepherd:
        He gathers the lambs in his arms
    and carries them close to his heart;
        he gently leads those that have young.

Whether or not we are able to “fly” today, may we all feel the strong arms of our Father’s compassion– and thrive.