Lasts year when we ordered the materials for science, we also ordered a couple of science kits. Included in the elementary kit was this fun butterfly garden kit with a free redemption code for caterpillars that will turn into butterflies. I haven’t been strictly going by the book with science, especially for the younger kids. Usually I take things they are interested in and build on them. And we haven’t gotten around to insects yet. But Lucy has never forgotten the fun things in that science kit. About a month ago, she started begging me to order the caterpillars. So before I forgot about it, I ordered them. They came in a couple of days, five little caterpillars in a cup with a vented lid. Inside the cup is everything the caterpillars need to survive. All we had to do was wait until the caterpillars got big enough and then they would start forming their chrysalides.It was stressed in the directions that when this process started, it was critical for the next few days to not touch or bump or bother them or they may not form into butterflies, but could die.
Because of Lucy’s interest, this was her project. And she showed remarkable responsibility in caring for and watching the caterpillars. I think she read the directions at least five times because she really wanted to do everything right. She kept them on the top of her tall dresser and didn’t tell Taivan where they were because she didn’t want him to cause them any harm. Now you have to understand this about Lucy: she does not like it when living things are harmed. When she finds bugs in our house, she either takes them outside herself, or she gets help from me or Matthew to take them outside where they might have the greatest chance of life. This feeling even extends to plants. Last fall Tom was cutting down some little trees on our property and trimming some others that were growing too closely to the house. Lucy saw this and got VERY upset. We have since had multiple discussions on how caring for things and having stewardship over things can be a very delicate balance. I do love that she values life.
Going back to the caterpillars, we were watching a little boy on the day the caterpillars began to congregate at the top of the container. Somehow this day, he scaled Lucy’s dresser, knocking the whole thing over and disturbing the caterpillars. I was downstairs when all of this occurred and all I heard was Jenny getting upset and Lucy sobbing. I ran upstairs and put the caterpillars up in her closet instead of the dresser, locked the door, and went to find and console Lucy. She was beside herself thinking that the caterpillars all might die now instead of turning into butterflies. I told her that I had put them in a safer place and that they looked okay. They hadn’t started forming chrysalides yet. I asked her what she thought would be the best thing to do now. She said that maybe we should pray for them since Heavenly Father cares for us and all of our creations. Even caterpillars. And I told her that He also cares about her and wants her to be happy. So she said a prayer. And she felt better, knowing that the caterpillars were in Heavenly Father’s care.
The next day all of the caterpillars began forming into chrysalides. And three days later when we moved them from the cup into the butterfly garden, she was elated! She kept walking around the house saying, “I can’t believe we are going to have real, live butterflies in our house! I am so excited, I can’t tell if I’m hot or cold! Wow! Butterflies!” Then she marked the calendar for the projected days that they would be emerging as butterflies.
About a week later, she came running downstairs after I had tucked her into bed and I knew by the look on her face, why she had come out of bed. The first couple butterflies had emerged! The next day, the remaining three emerged. All five caterpillars had emerged as butterflies. To me, it was a miracle. It was so fun to see the wonder of a little girl and the wonder of the transformation of caterpillars into butterflies. Nature was truly designed and is commanded by One who knows all.
I have been thinking about this incident and the many parallels it has for our lives. We are all like these caterpillars. Just as the caterpillars were placed in a cup with all the things they needed to survive and even fulfill the measure of their creation, we were placed on this earth with all the things we might need to thrive and fulfill our purpose. We have been given people around us to watch over us and care for us, and keep us safe. Sometimes things happen that might disturb the way we develop. We might encounter difficulties that affect our ability to grow and become what God has designed for all of us. But when these disturbances happen, whether it be sin or just hard times, we can always call upon a loving Heavenly Father to help restore us to ourselves through the power of the atonement of His Son. He will always help us find the path that will lead us back to Him, so we may become the best and most beautiful sons and daughters, even heirs to His kingdom. When we truly access the love of our Savior and let Him encircle us in His love, just as a caterpillar is encircled by its chrysalis, we can emerge victorious from this life.
And now a few pictures.
