Bees and Butterflies

Wow, I just realized how long it has been since I posted on this blog. I keep getting too busy and forget to stop and reflect on it all. We've been doing all kinds of things this spring. It seems like spring is usually our time to relax and take it all in, but this year we've been going non stop. But I have loved every minute of it.

photo credit

You know the saying stop and smell the flowers? I love that saying. Zoey will often bring me flowers she picks from the yard and makes sure I take time to stop and smell the flowers. But on this particular day, she taught me another lesson.

Stephen, Zoey and I were walking on this trail close to our house. We try to get out and do this as a family as often as we can. It's a perfect location for us because there is a playground right off the trail. Anyway...

we were walking along having a great time when Zoey goes off the trail chasing something. All I see are bees so I try to call her back so we can go on. However, Stephen saw what I didn't see, the same thing Zoey saw. Upon closer inspection I saw three small, bright orange butterflies dancing amongst the flowers.

I didn't even see them at first because I have a minute fear of bees and wanted to stay away. But Zoey, who has little to no fear, didn't even notice the bees. All she saw was the beauty before her in the form of a butterfly. After I saw that, I didn't notice the bees anymore either.

Stephen pipes up and says that there should be a life lesson in this. "Don't get distracted by the bees so that you don't see the butterflies." He is right. The fear of bees caused me to miss something beautiful.

I am thankful for Zoey everyday. She is always challenging me and showing me whole new ways to look at life. And this day I thanked her for showing me the butterflies, for sharing the beauty of the world.