A special thanks to my sweet friend Nancy McAllister for her beautiful thoughts and reflections found straight from God’s creation. Trust me…you don’t want to miss this!

Butterflies
by Nancy Mcallister

There are moments when we see our reflection in the mirror of God’s word. Moments when what is being reflected back isn’t what we thought we were actually portraying to the world around us. The ugliness that dwells within shines out brightly, portraying us as who we really are: arrogant, deceitful, lustful, and idolatrous. How did we miss that? Do others see us how we want them to see us, or do they see us for who we really are. Is the love of Christ showing through us? When we see ourselves the way God sees us, we can close the Book, pretend we saw nothing, and carry on our business as usual; or, we can choose to change. Keep in mind, God doesn’t wink at sin. He will hold us accountable for every action, for every word, for every thought.

Change takes commitment. Change is seldom easy and is often painful, and when we make a practice of wrongful actions and they become habitual, it is even harder to change. Change can stretch us beyond our self-imposed boundaries. When we allow ourselves to be renewed by the power of the Word, we should become so transparent that the world around us can see only Christ and His purity.

God has provided for us in nature a wonderful example of this process. We have all heard the analogy of being like a butterfly, but have you heard of the rare Greta oto? The Greta oto is a Glasswinged Butterfly. Like all caterpillars, as they undergo their metamorphosis into their final state of butterfly, they suffer a great deal of trauma and pain, but when they emerge from their chrysalis, their new form shows off a rare and beautiful phenomenon.

The beauty of the Greta oto is not in the bright bold colors of their wings, but rather in the transparency of their wings. You can look directly through the wings and see the colorful flowers and foliage on the other side. In effect, their beauty is the beauty behind and under them. Be better than just a butterfly, be a Greta oto butterfly, allowing Christ to shine through you.

Romans 12:2
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”