One of the gifts my grandparents, Mutte and my Grandad, gave my little family of three for Christmas this year was a membership to the local garden and sculpture park. We went to get our membership cards today and to explore the gardens for the first time this year, and it has already become a favorite family spot for us. We watched Newbie get his first look at butterflies, and it was spectacular. The gardens have a butterfly exhibit each Spring where they fill their conservatories with free flying butterflies that swoop and sweep above your head and land on the branches lining the foot paths. Newbie was completely taken with the experience.
"The alder by the river Shakes out her powdery curls;  The willow buds in silver For little boys and girls.  The little birds fly over And oh, how sweet they sing!  To tell the happy children That once again 'tis spring.  The gay green grass comes creeping So soft beneath their feet;  The frogs begin to ripple A music clear and sweet.  And buttercups are coming, And scarlet columbine,  And in the sunny meadows The dandelions shine.  And just as many daisies As their soft hands can hold  The little ones may gather, All fair in white and gold.  Here blows the warm red clover, There peeps the violet blue;  O happy little children! God made them all for you." Spring, by Celia Thaxter  There's something about butterflies that makes me think they carry some kind of secret. It's in their soft flight and in their graceful landings as they rest on tree leaves slowly fluttering those paper thin wings back and forth, back and forth. In harmony with their world of flowers and trees and earth, it's as if they're whispering praise to the Creator- like they know something we don't about how glorious and majestic and loving He is, despite the brokenness that surrounds us. I enjoyed watching my little boy get in on that secret today. That God is good and beautiful and worthy of praise; because someone who created such beauty could only be good and beautiful and worthy of praise. Newbie watched the butterflies with a contagious sense of reverence and wonder, and I think that's just how God always intended us to experience his Creation- with awe and wonder and a heart of praise for the hands that crafted such divine artwork. So that's exactly what we did. We wandered the gardens in the damp of the morning, and we reveled in His creation and whispered words of praise with the chorus of butterflies around us. After the fun we had today, I'm sure it won't be a handful of days before we are back to hear butterfly secrets again. I think we're going to bring G-Mama along with us next time, then Grandma, and our friends too. Because there's just too much delight to be had in watching little hands and eyes explore the dirt and flowers and butterflies. It's a wonder in and of itself, and should be shared. So we're going to pass it around like a bowl of buttery popcorn.  Hoping you are enjoying your weekend as much as we are, friends! |
