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Inspirational Stories
Stories Contributed by Our Visitors:
January 2007 to June 2007
(Newest Items at Top of List)
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- NNC, Kingston, JAMAICA
- It was a beautiful June morning in Jamaica and the butterflies were in season. There were so many butterflies flying around, I thought to my self I had not seen this in a while. As I sat in the car, waiting for my fiance, I couldn't help but admire the butterflies. They were so beautiful, so graceful. Their beautiful yellow colour brightened the already sunlit morning and their graceful fluttering caressed the crisp morning air. I was totally captivated.
My fiance entered the car and oblivious to all that was happening proceeded to clean the windscreen. When he was finished, one little butterfly pitched onto the windscreen and got his wings all wet. The butterfly's mobility was instantly impaired because its wet wings were stuck together and it was caught on the windscreen. I tried to help it, but it was so delicate, and I was afraid of doing more harm than good. There was little I could do with my human fingers and I felt sad.
Then the most amazing thing happened. My fiance and myself could not believe our eyes. Suddenly we saw several other butterflies, as if they understood exactly the plight of their fellow butterfly, just flew down and delicately brushed themselves against the butterfly on the windscreen. They did this repeatedly until the butterfly's wings were dried after which it gracefully flapped its wings, as if to test them, then flew off.
What level of intelligence? What remarkeable teamwork? What perfect demonstration of unselfishness and love? If only humans could embrace this behaviour...what a better world this would be!
- Deborah Shelton, Lake Charles, LA
- My precious son Kevin drowned in June 16th, 2002. Through the years I have felt so lost without him. I have cried until
there was no more tears. But recently I attended a conference for bereaved parents where we released butterflies in their honor.
As the music was playing I was getting so nervous about the releasing. I really wanted to keep my butterfly, but I knew it w
ould die soon. As I opened the little box fearing it would fly away to quickly and I wouldn't get to see it, I was praying
Lord please let me hold this precious gift. This little butterfly came out flutering his wings as if to say "look at me",
he flew onto my shirt right above my heart and this is where he stayed for several long emotional minutes. I cried for him
to stay and even called it by my son's name, it did stay for a while. Then I thought how selfish I was being, this precious
gift from God, was just like my son had been a special gift from God, needed to be free. So I told this butterfly to fly free
and fill the world with beauty as my son had with mine. Kevin you are never forgotten and will always be in or heart and soul, Mom.
- Amanda, Covington, VA
- For the last 6 months, I have been struggling with money issues, confidence issues, and have felt like I have been in the bottom of a barrel. Together with my husband, we are raising 3 children. He works and I have stayed home with the children for the last 9 years by choice. That has been wonderful, but at the same time, providing for three children on one income is a struggle. And although I wouldn't trade being with my children while they are small, it takes a toll on you and I have lost a part of what used to be a vibrant, courageous young woman. I took a job babysitting in my home to help with out with the finances, but that was a great intrusion on our home life, as well as a creator of intense jealousy for my now 2 year old son.
For the last month, I have run all kinds of scenarios in my mind about how to "fix" some of our problems. I was outside last week having a yard sale, of all things, and had a group of ladies that stopped by. I was so taken in by this group of middle-aged women who were having the time of their lives searching through my junk. While they were on my back patio, one of them said, "Look there on your doorknob." It was a butterfly. It stayed there for probably 5 minutes. My children looked at it and it wasn't spooked by them at all. Then the lady said, "You know it's good luck when a butterfly comes to your door." I had never heard that before.
I helped the ladies carry some of their rummage to their vehicle and was entertained by the way they laughed and carried on. I asked if they were just friends or if they were related. They revealed that they were 3 sisters and their mother was also with them. I relayed to them how wonderful I thought it was that they were such a close family and took time to get together and load up in the car together and yard sale! I told them I am an only child and that I don't have that "comradery" with siblings, and that I thought it was teriffic. I chatted with them a little while longer and then they were off.
In the week that has passed since then, we have made a change to our financial situation that will help tremendously and I have met with the local community college to enroll in the fall for classes that will lead me to finish my education degree. I will send 2 of my three children to school this year, and I will still be able to spend most of my time at home with my 2 year old. I think about the butterfly that touched down on my doorknob often, and the blessings of the 4 ladies who reminded me that there is nothing more important than family and loving one another.
- Eileen, West Grove, PA
- Death of a loved one is difficult. The stories I have just read are filled with such sadness and grief that I almost feel disrespectful to tell mine. However, our beloved pet, Cocoa, died Saturday, June 16th after a short sickness. We knew at 11 1/2 years old that she was deterioting but still did not expect her to die. She was a beautiful, affectionate, smart Chocolate Lab which we inherited from our senior in college son when Cocoa was only weeks old. Finally on our own with 4 children raised, educated we did not expect another dog in our lives. She was very dominate as a puppy and through patience and love became the most wonderful pet. On Saturday when we realized we would have to say goodbye to Cocoa we called all our children to the emergency vet center. After arriving and holding her and looking into her sick eyes our four grown children said goodbye to this beautiful family member of ours. My oldest son in particular would often come over just to take her for long walks on the walking trails around our house. While leaving the vet center, my husband handed the oldest Cocoa's red collar saying that Cocoa would want him to have this. We all hugged and cried and wondered how we would ever confront the huge void she left in our lives.
The next day was Father's Day and I found my husband awake at 6:00 crying into Cocoa's blanket. She was his shadow in all he did and I knew on this particular day he would feel the pain of her not being around. As I was crying and overwhelmed with grief I asked God to just let me know we did the right thing and that Cocoa was no longer in pain and was happy. Immediately I looked out the glass sliding door and onto our deck landed a small, white butterfly. It was so immediate after my prayer that I felt it was definitely a sign. Later that evening my daughter called to say she prayed for a sign that Cocoa was okay. As she sat in her sunroom she noticed a small, white butterfly on the screen for more than a few seconds. I then told my husband about the two butterfly stores and he started to sob uncontrollably. He had a golf outing on Monday and it was a better ball scramble. On the sixteenth hole they would use his ball since it was the better shot. As the foursome approched the ball a small, white butterfly flew around and landed exactly on top of the ball.
Later, my son decided on his way home from work to walk the trails around our home with Cocoa's collar in his hand. I am anxious to see if any of my other children witness a small, white butterfly. This can not be conincidental, and although I miss her and our home is filled with reminders, I am somewhat comforted. For all the people grieving I will hope you find comfort.
Thank you for letting me tell my story!
- CC, ENGLAND
- My Mum died 4 years ago of cancer so was not around to see the birth of her first grandchild. In the final few weeks of my pregnancy my husband and I were sitting in the garden enjoying the evening sun when a beautiful white butterfly started to fly in circles around me. It landed on my arm, cheek, hand and knee. The whole episode lasted 10 minutes. I felt such a strong connection with my mum and I knew it was her way of letting me know that she was with me and with her grandson. I went on to give birth to a gorgeous baby boy who has inherited his grandmother's bright blue eyes and calm temperament.
- Novato, CA
- My father in law recently passed away. During the time before his services, I was outside in my yard sweeping the brick pathway in my back yard. I started to think of my father in law and of some fond memories I have of him. As I looked back down at the ground, I noticed this beautiful butterfly laying on the brick path with it's wings opened. I've never seen that type of butterfly before, it's dark brown a wing pattern of yellow and blue dots. I immediately said "Hi Bill". I felt my father in law's spirit there with me. So, I periodically came back outside to look for the butterfly and it was still there, it was there through the night and the next morning. I'd visit it, my husband and a friend even saw it. My husband said it was a gift to us and I truly believe that. Lastly, I went to the internet to see if there were other similar stories like mine and came upon this wonderful site. I read of one story mentioning that the butterfly they saw was a Mourners Cloak. So, I looked it up and there it was! The same pattern and color as the one that's hanging around outside in my backyard by my garden path. I'm truly moved by this and there is such an enormous amount of calm and peace from this beautiful gift.
- Gisela Marin, Tarrytown, NY
- My daughter Jessica N. Santos loved butterflies and what they represent. She loved them so much that she even had a butterfly tattoo on her lower back. On August 27, 2006 she was killed - the innocent victim of a random drive by shooting. She was only 19 years old and beautiful and free spirited like a butterfly.
The day of her funeral, a monarch butterfly was lingering and flying outside the funeral home. It was captured by my cousin and she put it in a bag and held on to it all through the church and burial services. At the cemetery, I then released the butterfly and said, goodbye Jessica, till we see you again, fly free butterfly....
The butterfly then flew over the flowers on her grave, did 2 spins, and then flew straight up, way up high into the clouds. I believe my butterfly angel, Jessica, and her soul flew up to heaven that day.
- Irene Lara, San Angel, TX
- I come from a very close knit Hispanic family. In fact, my husband, three daughters and myself live across the street from my parents. After my father died in Jan. 2007, my middle daughter insisted that she did not want a quincenera. Her birthday is 3 days after my dad's and she was named after him. In my pain and depression, I didn't argue, I just said okay.
A couple of weeks ago, my sister told me she had this strong feeling after she prayed that Alexis (my middle daughter) should have a quincenera and that I should ask her. The next morning, I said,"What would you say if I wanted you to have a quincenera", and immediately she said yes.
We started looking up quincenera stores for ideas on a theme, my older daughter had angels for hers. We came across a butterfly garden, and we both liked it. My dad had a huge garden in our backyard, and she thought the butterflies were nice without being too girly. We googled butterflies to see if we found a picture of one so we could choose a color scheme. The first site that we got on was called butterflies and rainbows, Hello from Heaven. We did not know about ADC signs and thought that was cool, because the day after my dad died we saw a beautiful, double rainbow, which is odd for January in West Texas!
The following Mon. my brother e-mailed telling me about all the butterflies he and his wife had been noticing. He thought dad might be telling us that he is okay. I still had not told him about the website I found and Alexis' quincenera. Since then, we have seen so many butterflies and bluebirds, not to mention rainbows!
- Linda, TX
- Several months after my husband died I went to a park to eat my lunch. As I sat at the picnic table I saw several butterflies go past me. I was thinking of my husband and how I missed him. A few minutes later one butterfly appeared right in front of me and then flew away. I whispered, "don't leave". A few seconds later it reappeared and landed on my hand and then on my sandwich and then another one landed alongside the first one. There they were right in my hand! I would always save the last bite of my sandwich for my husband...........and here on my last bite of sandwich was these two beautiful butterflies!!
I know the One that sent these for me. Every time I see a butterfly, I think of this moment.
- Sherry, Redondo Beach, CA
- Oh how I love butterflies, as do my sisters.
Years ago, I used to see a yellow butterfly fluttering around my back porch. It reminded me of my grandma, my mother's mom, who I remember wearing a yellow floral dress, so everytime I see the yellow butterfly, I say "hi grandma". Now the entire apartment complex where I live knows my story. Everytime they see a yellow butterfly, they'll say "Sherry, there's your grandma". And now some of them believe that their "passed relatives" are saying "hello" too when they see a butterfly.
A year ago yesterday, we lost my wonderful father to pancreatic cancer. We miss him so. A couple of days after my father had passed away, I was at home with my mother and my sister. My sister and I were doing some yardwork. All of a sudden I saw a beautiful monarch butterfly fluttering around my feet and landing on my toes. I told my sister, "that's daddy. He's letting us know he's okay". Monarch's are stately leaders. My father was one of them. My sister and I smiled and hugged. We knew in some way, in our way, that he was okay and was with us helping us with the yardwork, which used to be his job.
Months later, my sister told me about when she went to visit my father at the cemetery and how a beautiful purple butterfly landed on his grave - she loves purple, it's her favorite color. We used to hunt for "easter crocuses" at the beginning of spring at the farm where we lived when we were young. We have never ever in our lives seen a purple butterfly. We knew it was a special one. She said "dad" was there and reminding us that we was still with us.
Several months ago, I went with my boyfriend and his father to a resort for the weekend. We stopped at a little town on the way to our destination. My boyfriend went off to the store, while his father and I chatted outfront. All of a sudden, a huge monarch butterfly came and sat on his arm, and I said "oh Pat, it's my dad', he's checking you out. He wants to make sure you're a good man". We laughed, but deep inside, I knew my father was giving me a sign that he was out there, along with me in life, just wanted to remind me he was still looking out for me and sat upon my friend's father's arm letting me know "He's a good man and it's okay". It made me smile and gave me comfort knowing he was around, even though I couldn't see him.
So to you all of you butterfly believers, what we believe to be true is true to us. It makes us braver and stronger, able to bear the stresses of life easier and reminds us to live each day to the fullest, be the happiest you can be, have "fun", spread your wings and fly. They're reminding us they are with us, they're free and happy and healthy, like we should be.
- Jimmy Scott, Nashville, TN
- Last year after my mother passed away i wrote a song called "On the Wings of a Butterfly" and posted the lyrics on this marvellous website.
I have recently made a video/slideshow using some nature footage and featuring a wonderful female vocalist performing the song. Here is a link in case anyone would like to see it.many thanks, jimmy scott
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1606717540
- Helen, Massachusetts, USA
- My 85 year old uncle, who was a POW from WWII, passed away in a VA hospital during April, 2004. He suffered from bad knees resulting from his many years of service as a postal carrier. At the very end of his life, my uncle was admitted to the VA's nursing home care after breaking his ankle while stepping out of the shower and for choosing to decline further treatment for his prostate cancer. He was bedridden for the remainder of his days. The day before he died, my uncle had an incredible deathbed vision that was relayed to us by his youngest daughter, who was witness to his conversation with someone she could not see with mortal eyes.
At my uncle's funeral, I wore a tiny butterfly lapel pin in honor of my own son who passed at the age of 24 in 1999. When the military personnel began playing Taps at the gravesite, my uncle's eldest daughter suddenly sobbed out so loudly we all couldn't help but cry with her. My heart went out to all my uncle's 6 children, but especially that particular cousin because she took care of her mother before she died of lung cancer 3 years earlier. After the services, I felt a strong urge to hug my cousin before we left the cemetery and to transfer the pin I was wearing onto my cousin's jacket. I told her the story behind the butterfly as a sign of transformation at the time of death. I added the butterfly is a sign her father's spirit is renewed and that he took flight like a butterfly from his broken body and flew free and whole towards heaven.
Later upon returning home, I wanted to sit in my backyard with nature all around where I like to sit and think of my beloved son. At that moment, I was thinking solely of my uncle and pictured him running around in heaven, whooping it up, and feeling completely free after years of painfully hobbling around in his physical body. Suddenly a butterfly - the first one I saw that season - came fluttering into my yard like a heavenly gift, and I felt so joyous at the sight and timing of this remarkable butterfly. The feeling also came to me that it may have been my uncle's spirit validating his awareness of my giving the token butterfly pin to my grieving cousin. Happiness gushed over me during this special, revealing moment, and I shared the story later on with my cousin of this after death communication. It was reassuring to us that her father's spirit lives on and sent this beautiful butterfly to me so quickly.
- Kindrah Caffey, Abilene, TX
- I am a nurse at an oncology clinic in a West Texas town. I also co-facilitate a support group for women who have cancer with another nurse named Heather. The name of our support group is W.H.I.M.S., it is an acronym for Women's Hope Inspires More Survivors. Our "mascot" is the butterfly. There is so much symbolism associated with the butterfly and cancer.
A cancer patient undergoes a dramatic transformation beginning with the diagnosis, which is almost always life shattering, and ending with the conclusion of treatment, leaving a new life reborn after tragedy. It is not uncommon for a cancer patient to withdraw within themselves in the beginning phases of their diagnosis and treatment course. This signifies when a caterpillar creates its cocoon to shield itslef from the outside world. Like the butterfly the cancer patient undergoes many changes, both good and bad. In my experience many patients come out transformed into something beautiful, graceful, humble, and anew. On June 12, 2007 our office will be hosting a Survivors Day Ceremony in our office garden. At the end of the ceremony our patients will be given indiviualized envelopes containing a live painted lady butterfly to release into the garden. This ceremony is dedicated to those brave individuals who have fought a battle more difficult than any other and succeeded in overcoming the obstacle of cancer.
- Mary Ann Harrington, Milwaukee, WI
- Almost three years have gone by since you left the earth. I am honored that you have taken the time to fly by. I recognize you in the butterfly I have seen the past two weeks, and I am thrilled that you decided to land on my leg three times today. I stilled my mind to listen to your message. What you said was to take an internal inventory, to be permeable, to love without judgement, to let the butterflies fly. did I hear you correctly? Was it honest and free? Does it ring of bias? Did it really come from me?
You are not the first butterfly to visit me, by them I have been blessed by mom and dad and all the rest. I continue to say hi and listen for a reply.
The Message of the Butterfly
Do butterflies talk?
I would like to know.
Do Butterflies talk?
I tend to think so.
After our visit you see
I feel that we talked
Don't you agree
As quieted my mind
I thought you did say
My time was coming
Keep nothing at bay
Your free floating spirit
So airy and light.
Suggested a guided
unerring flight.
I choose to believe
unless proven wrong.
That it is you I hear in
the lyrics of many a song.
So I will see you tomorrow
By the river's edge.
Waiting for your words of wisdom
as they float into my head.
- Angela Jiang, Calgary, Albeta, CANADA
- Once upon a time,a young caterpillar crawled out of its
egg and ate a lot of leaves. It was very fat. Soon it was winter. It turned into a cocoon and changed into a butterfly. It dried its wings and flew away. It was a
Monarch butterfly!
- Angel Lam, Hong Kong, CHINA
- Life is a short journey. When we die, we will just become beautiful butterflies. It is what we believe in Chinese culture. When my grandfather died one year ago, I felt extreme sorrow until I saw a butterfly on the mountain passed me. I felt calm and warm. I know that my grandfather is free from distraction, doubt and fear. He becomes a beautiful butterfly and enjoys the real freedom. I should not blame either myself or others for any saddness happened on us. Just let it go and accept the changes in the nature.
- Marsha Lyon, Gig Harbor, WA
- It was a beautiful summer Day just 6 months after my beloved Son Jeff had passed away. Jeff was an avid fly fisherman. I felt a need to be near a river. I drove from Arizona to Idaho on a road trip following the Salmon river. I met a friend along the way and we went up to a special spot he knew of in Idaho, on a little stream. I needed some alone time and walked down to the river. There were stones that lead out into the water and I cautiously followed them and sat on a large rock. I had a vision of Jeff so elequently fly fishing as I gazed up the river. There he was, as I had watched him perform so many times. Then in a whisper came this beautuiful yellow butterfly who encircled my head over and over again. I began to weep and spoke Jeff's name just praying for more time with this creature. As it flew off I thanked God for letting me know he had my son safely tucked in his arms. As I opened my eyes again there it was circling again and then bidding farewell. The job had been done. I knew who had sent this beautiful creature to give me a moment of peace.
- Liz Reyna, Rohnert Park, CA
- In 2003, my husband (who was 57 and had always been very healthy)suddenly came down with a serious infection. After several days in the hospital, he suffered a cardiac arrest. He went for 15 minutes without oxygen to his brain, had complete kidney failure and pneumonia. As he lay unconscious on life support in the intensive care unit, his doctors urged me to discontinue kidney dialysis, which would result in his death. They said if he survived he would be a ""vegetable"" due to severe brain damage. They told me he had ""zero"" chance of walking and talking ever again.
After agonizing for several days, I decided that this was not the time for my husband to pass away. I refused to discontinue the dialysis. It was a long, hard road. He remained in intensive care for 2 months and then in a rehab hospital for 2 more months. Very slowly he became alert and stronger. I visited him every day at both hospitals.
Sometimes I questioned the decision I had made. Gil had been a very sharp, intelligent person, a computer programmer. Now he would be forever dependent on me, and our future was very much in doubt.
Finally the day came when he was allowed home for a 2-hour visit from the rehab hospital. We sat in his hospital room beforehand, and he said suddenly, ""What is it about butterflys?"" I had no idea what he meant, but he picked up the remote on the TV, and switched around till he came to a program about butterflys. I thought that was a strange coincidence, but thought no more about it.
Soon afterward, I carefully assisted Gil out to our car and we drove home together for the first time in months. We walked into the house together, something I had many times doubted we would ever do again. I immmediately walked to the back door and opened it to allow a breeze inside the house.
On a shrub right outside the door was a cloud of beautiful monarch butterflys. This time, I didn't doubt that the coincidence was a message. I knew that I had made the right decision for my husband, and that somehow everything would work out for us and our family.
Today, although Gil can't work and has memory problems, he is in many ways still the same funny, intelligent, caring individual he always was, and we continue to be happy together.
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