Watching the metamorphosis of a chrysalis to a monarch was a beautiful experience. A few weeks ago we got to see this at our home in Ohio.
The end of summer calls for cleaning up the flower beds. As my husband was cutting back bushes and flowers the end of September he noticed a “green thing” hanging from our window shutter. We had no idea what it was and soon forget about it for several days.
Turns out this “green thing” with gold dots was a chrysalis.
As I looked closer at the gold dots, they looked like pure gold. There is a row of gold across the top and dots of gold towards the bottom. I wonder if that is a seam after the caterpillar sealed herself inside.
October 5 I noticed the green lime color was turning darker and you could see outlines of wings.
October 6 at 9:00 a.m. the orange and black wing was visible. By 2:00 p.m. there were more changes. I couldn’t stop checking to see the changes. I was told she will emerge soon.
We had a camera set up near the chrysalis and could watch on our iPad from inside. Around 3:30 p.m. I was sitting in our recliner, next to our iPad, and she was emerging! I ran outside in time to see the head pop out.
Oh my! I have never seen anything so beautiful and amazing!
A Facebook friend was messaging me information about Monarchs. She raises them and may teach me next year. She told me this one was a female. Males have black dots on the back of their wings. So I named her Bella since she was born in Bellaire.
My friend told me Bella will hang from the chrysalis for several hours as her wings dry out. A monarch cannot fly until then.
October 7 she is still hanging on.
October 8 in the morning, she is still there. I was worried since it was getting colder. She must be waiting for some sunshine to warm up her wings.
October 8, around 10:20 a.m., on she’s still there.
I went back inside the house and tried to work on my writing, but couldn’t concentrate so I went back outside at 10:40 a.m. She was gone.
I started across the yard and I saw her fly from a lilac bush up to the gum tree. I could not tell where she was since the leaves are orange and yellow. The camera recording of her fluttering from the shutter was at 10:34 a.m.
Bella reminded me of several things:
Patience – If I’d been patient I could have seen her emerge, and then also when she took flight. So often, we get impatient waiting in traffic, waiting in lines, waiting on water to boil. I’ve been impatient with my Keurig! Sarai was impatient with God (and Abram) waiting on their promised son. You can read her story in Genesis 16. God is patient. He’s in no hurry. God is not bound by time as we are. Patience is one of the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. These 9 fruits are to be produced in a Christians life. Is patience being produced in you and me?
Change – When we become Christian we become new.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
How? It’s a life long process but it starts when we accept Jesus, trust in Him, and live life differently than we have been. It helps to read our Bible and apply it to our life, going to church to be around other Christians and hearing God’s word through music and message and by talking to God. All this helps us change into His likeness as the Bible talks about but we must do our part for God to do His part. Just like the caterpillar is changing from the inside out, so do we when we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior and allow God to transform our heart and life into someone new.
If you’ve never prayed a Prayer of Salvation, I’d like to encourage you. He is our Salvation and Hope.
Dear Heavenly Father, I confess I’m a sinner in need of your love and grace. I confess my sins and want to change to be more like your Son Jesus. I believe you sent Jesus to earth to die in my place, and he rose from the dead on the third day. By faith, I receive your forgiveness and salvation. Come into my heart and help me to live for You. In Jesus name, Amen
May God bless you and I as we confess, repent and live for Jesus in this new life as a follower of Christ.
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