Be still

Ever since I was a child its been a dream of mine to have a butterfly land on me. I love everything a butterfly is: delicate, beautiful and such an incredible symbol of transformation. The fascination with a “butterfly landing” started when one day at recess a school mate was standing and a butterfly landed on their arm. A crowd of us gathered around. All of us wanted a butterfly to land on us at that moment. “If a butterfly lands on you it means you’re nice.” Was this classmates reasoning as to why the butterfly was there. True or not, it stuck in my mind. So from that moment on I wanted a butterfly landing to show a butterfly stamp of approval! Anytime after that when I’d see a butterfly, I’d run after it screaming, “Land on me! I’m nice!” It’s no surprise my technique didn’t attract a single landing.

Recently, I was talking with a friend who mentioned she was praying in her backyard as she sat in the grass, and a stick bug delicately climbed on her arm. I was amazed! “Yes I’ve had ladybugs and butterflies land on me too.” I was in awe. “What do you have to do to get a butterfly to land on you?” I heard her chuckle and then she said,

“All you have to do is be still.”

Be still. Be still. Be still. The words rung out to me. Two words. So simple, yet the one thing I’d never tried, but one of God’s commands.

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Since that day, I have worked on being still. It wasn’t always easy at first, but now it’s my most precious time with God. I find that I am noticing more, and complaining less. I’m able to experience peace and God. I feel his touch in the breeze, hear his whisper in the wind chimes and see his beauty in the leaves rustling on the trees.

Two gorgeous yellow butterflies danced delicately by my foot the other day as another looped around my head. No landing yet, but as God draws me in closer and as I continue to embrace being still, every day is one day closer to a landing. 💗