From a Baseball Beating to a Beautiful Butterfly

I set out yesterday afternoon to toss around a baseball with my husband and step-son. Sounds innocent enough right? Indeed, however I hadn’t thrown a baseball since I was in middle school (to the best of my recollection). And…I had little to no practice catching with a glove. I remember tossing around a baseball (or maybe it was a softball) with my brother and cousins when we were younger, but I honestly never remember using a glove.

Anyway…after a few lessons and warm-up tosses (both “boys” were VERY patient with me, by the way), I continued in the fun and actually got a little better with time. Almost an hour into our afternoon entertainment, the unexpected happened…a ball landed *splat* on my face – right on my left cheekbone.

It happened so fast. I had my glove up in the air to catch the ball coming my way, and the next thing I know, it was on my face. The immediate pain was so intense, and it literally took my breath away. My husband successfully calmed me down to keep me from hyperventilating. I felt like such an idiot for missing that ball and allowing my face to get beat up.

My husband suggested I take a timeout and go sit down for a little while. I eagerly agreed and went and plopped down on the curb near the park where we were playing.

Suddenly, it dawned on me…earlier yesterday morning, I overslept and missed my quiet time with the Lord. In the rush of trying to get to church on time, I completely pushed God to the back burner. After church, we got into the busy-ness of having lunch and then cleaning up from lunch. Soon followed my one and only naptime of the week. Right after that, we headed to the park.

So…I found myself sitting on the curb by a beautiful park alongside a placid river. My husband and step-son continued playing a little baseball. And…the Holy Spirit just convicted me of forgetting to spend quality with the Lord that morning.

I proceeded to thank God for allowing that baseball to smack in the face to get my attention for a little while to be able to spend time with Him. I then entered into a time of prayer. It was so tranquil and so peaceful (even with the left side of my face throbbing). After spending the time talking to God, I asked Him for a small favor…

God, you know that I know that you are with me right now. I know that you’ve just heard every single word that I’ve prayed. I don’t need to see you to know that you exist, but God, would you please give me a small gift today? Would you allow me to see you in some small way in this beautiful setting? Something that only I would understand? Maybe you could let me find a four-leaf clover in this patch of clover right beside me or perhaps a bird will fly by. Or – maybe you could flutter around me as a butterfly or perhaps a heart-shaped leaf. God – you pick, but please do so in a way that I know it’s you. And God, even if you choose to not reveal yourself to me in this way today, I still know you’re here with me. 

I began looking for Him. I ran my hand through the clover and peered closely in search of one with four leaves. I glanced over the leaves in search of one in the shape of a heart. I continued staring at the ground right in front of me, expecting a small bird or butterfly or something to land right in that clover patch. But, I didn’t see it. Just as I was beginning to throw in the towel, I sensed God telling me to look up.

And so I lifted my head to glance at the area about 20 feet in front of me. I never even moved my head to the left or right. I simply looked up and looked straight ahead, and there it was (or there He was)…a beautiful yellow butterfly. I actually think it might have even been the same butterfly I spotted when we arrived at the park (at least it looked the same). But, I lost sight of it until this very moment.

The butterfly flit around this area in front of me for about 10 seconds and then fluttered off to the right in the direction towards the river. I never saw it again the rest of the afternoon.

I could feel the tears forming in my eyes – this time from the precious gift I know God had just given me – not from the painful mess on my face.

And…isn’t true that so often we’re looking down at just what’s in front of us…whether be a current crisis or difficulty…and we miss the beautiful gift God has waiting on the horizon if we would only look up?

Thank you, Father, for guiding my eyes towards you yesterday!