The Caterpillar’s Journey

“A favorite memory I have comes from a time in my son’s development when he was learning so much about the world around him.  It seemed he was learning something new every day and always asking questions about it.  One day, we read a book about a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.  He asked to know more about this.  I could practically see the gears turning in his head, trying to really understand it.  An insect completely changing form to basically become another insect!  His little mind couldn’t comprehend it.  

Confident that I understood the process of metamorphosis, I explained it.  He wanted to see it so he asked for a video.  I found a time lapse video of a caterpillar going through all of the stages, emerging as a butterfly.  I was surprised when I learned the caterpillar literally turns into goop while inside the protective chrysallis.  It sounds like such a beautiful process until you learn that part.  It sounded horrible and I looked at my son, half expecting horror on his face.  He didn’t react.  Of course, young children see the world so differently.  

The uncomfortable image made me think of something.  I thought about the figurative meaning behind metamorphosis and how beautiful things in my life have often come after a trying time.  I thought of times when I had quite literally been transformed after the most horrible things I experienced–things that pretty much did turn me into goop for a while, actually.  I really don’t get it.  It’s beyond me how beautiful things can come from hardship.  But I was so glad to see this connection and thought that perhaps one day I can teach my son about the caterpillar-to-butterfly journeys we have in life as well.”

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