“Yum, yum, yum,” the little yellowish-green caterpillar mumbled. “These leaves are delicious. I’m so glad I landed in this beautiful garden.”
“What a lovely caterpillar you are,” said a voice two big green leaves away. “Hi! My name is Lady. Welcome to the garden,” the teeny, tiny red and black bug smiled.
“Why thank you,” replied the caterpillar. “It is certainly a scrumptious place to dine. And nice to meet you Lady. I don’t have a name that I know of.”
“Oh you will in time. You’re the type of creature who has an interesting journey ahead. Now you are a caterpillar, but your names will change. Actually a lot will change for you,” Lady Bug explained.
“Well that may be, but I feel like this appetite will always be ready for luscious leaves,” said the little yellowish-green caterpillar, as he munched some more.
“Hee-hee! You are silly. Enjoy! I hope to see you soon, if I can recognize you,” Lady Bug sighed.
“Recognize me? Here I am!” laughed the caterpillar, not understanding Lady Bug’s words.
Later that day Doggie the little yellow cat, had been napping in the shade of the garden. He stretched and yawned, and then saw a funny long thing nearby. On closer inspection it was a little yellowish-green caterpillar.
“Well, ok, although I feel a bit itchy in this skin and I must say, I need to change,” answered the caterpillar.
“Yes, you will need to do that a few times, but it won’t always be like that. The final time will be a doozie!” laughed Doggie.
“Whatever do you mean?” asked the caterpillar.
“You’ll see in time, things change, whether we want them to or not,” Doggie taught the tiny caterpillar.
Days passed. One more time to change his skin, the yellowish-green caterpillar wound himself up in a tight but cozy cocoon of reddish-brown color that hung from a twig on his favorite branch. He stayed there for what seemed an eternity, changing, growing, as strange things emerged.
“Hmm. What is going on?” he wondered aloud in the dark one night.
Nearby, an owl named Content responded, “Hoot! You are changing. You are no longer a little caterpillar.”
“But I don’t want to die. I want to stay a caterpillar,” he cried to the owl. “What can I do? Why is this happening?”
“It’s just the way life is. You changed from a caterpillar into a chrysalis. You will still be a part of who you were, just in a different form, and with a different way to enjoy life. You will live on. Hoot!” Content the Owl’s eyes brightened at the thought of what lay ahead.
“Are you sure? I don’t know. I’m not so comfortable with all this happening right now,” cried the chrysalis.
“It won’t be much longer. There are better days ahead. You will be stronger if you get through the struggle.” The Owl named Content left his wise words for the caterpillar-turned-chrysalis to contemplate.
Fluttering his wings, feeling thirsty for nectar, he looked into the bright beautiful luscious garden and noted the many flowers there were to choose from.
“Hi!” said a familiar voice. “I recognize you, somehow I do!”
“Yes it’s me! So glad to see you made it through your struggles. Are you feeling better?” Lady Bug asked.
“Yes, actually I feel wonderful! I feel as if I could fly all over and drink nectar from the flowers!” shouted the butterfly.
“Yes you can do that!” laughed Lady Bug. “I hereby name you Shiloh the Butterfly. May your days be peaceful and bring beauty to others.” Lady Bug smiled.
“Thank you. For everything.” Shiloh the Butterfly flapped his wings and took flight into the bright sunny day over the garden. Life had never felt so good.
Moral of the story:
As Lady Bug said: “A lot will change.”
As Doggie the Little Yellow Cat said: “Things change whether we want them to or not.”
As Content the Owl said: “You will be stronger if you get through the struggle.”
Thus: Our lives are always changing. Trust the process. In time, all will be well.
Theresa M
