Been following the monarch butterflies all around the yard today hoping to get a good photo of them on the orange zinnias. The butterflies are so beautiful, clothed in their autumn colors of burnt orange and black, their little thin legs sporting jet black hose. One finally sat on an orange zinnia and I took multiple photos, couldn’t see for the sun’s glare but once I got back on the porch and perched in the swing, I had several good photographs.

I think this glorious butterfly was resting and sunning himself, enjoying the warm autumn sun on his wings. I studied up on the monarch today learning interesting facts and how to tell males and females apart. Monarchs are great at camouflaging and they are the only butterflies that make a two-way migration like birds. They transform themselves from a yellow and black and bright white striped caterpillar into a wondrous winged creature of burnt orange hemmed with black. They announce the arrival of the fall and harvest the last nectar from the fading blossoms in the flower beds.

Butterflies are also symbols of God’s love and his reassurance. Our transformation, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, reminds us of the caterpillars turning into glorious winged creatures. When we give our hearts to Jesus, we become beautiful, full of God’s light and love. God walks with us daily leading us to eternal life and we are transformed by God’s grace. “The old life is gone, and the new life has begun,” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

God takes the caterpillar and changes it into a butterfly just as he is able to transform a sinner into a saint. The butterfly represents our ability to change and evolve. The butterfly can be seen as a symbol of resurrection. We can let go of our burdens by putting them in God’s hands and be free from those worries, finding joy and peace in our lives as God gives us his grace. “The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough,” Rabindranath Tagore.

I see the monarchs as gifts from God, heralding the harvest season, giving my flower bed some last moments of beauty, the butterflies resting on their blossoms, tap dancing and kissing the vibrant colored blooms goodbye till next summer. Butterflies symbolize freedom and joy and show us that we can be liberated with God’s love and our past sins forgiven. God wants us to be free and live with joy. When we give our hearts to the Lord we find freedom in his words. “For the Lord is the spirit and wherever the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom,” 2 Corinthians 3:17.

God offers us peace and security. We are transformed by his faithfulness. He heals our wounded souls and gives us hope for the future. “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.” We need to learn to walk in God’s truth.

“You need to spread the wings of your heart to show you where it wants to soar.”— Unknown