In the bottom of the old pond lived some grubs who could not understand why none of their groups ever came back after crawling up the stems of the lilies to the top of the water. They promised each other that the next one who was called to make the upward climb would return and tell what happened to him. Soon one of them felt an urgent impulse to seek the surface; he rested himself on the top of a lily pad and went through a glorious transformation which made him a dragonfly with beautiful wings. In vain, he tried to keep his promise. Flying back and forth over the pond, he peered down at his friends below. The he realized that even if they could see him, they would not recognize such a radiant creature as one of their number.
The fact that we cannot see our loved ones or communicate with them, after the transformation which we call death, is no proof that they cease to exist.
Walter Dudley Cavert, Remember Now, 1944, 1971
The other day, a good friend of mine called to say her mother had just died -- and I really knew how she felt as my mother died five years ago. Many of you were wonderfully supportive, generous and kind at the time (and still are!) -- bless you and thank you! One person had sent me something that really touched my heart and I remembered it after Jackie called me.
So off I went searching through the contents of the 300 boxes we have unpacked to find what I knew I had seen somewhere, sometime in the last two months! At last I found these envelopes I had been looking for.
These envelopes include a card depicting dragonflies in various environments and colors, a copy of Mr. Cavert's story and a small dragonfly keychain. It is a remarkable project begun by an 11-year-old girl, who is now 22, called Anne Marquardt Brooker, it's called The Dragonfly Project.
When an 11-year-old friend of hers died some years ago, Anne sent the family the dragonfly story and was so inspired at how much help it gave them, she founded this volunteer-run organization. I would like to meet that young woman!
You can go to the site and give a donation for some cards to be sent to you -- or just ask for some of the cards. You can ask for them to send someone a card for you.
I wanted you all the know about this project as I think it is one of the most beautiful, hope-filled and comforting gestures that we could offer someone who has just had the loss of the physical form of a loved one.
For all of you who have "lost" someone you love, look for them! Perhaps if you think like Mr. Calvert, if you believe that they are with you in some spiritual way -- a way that we cannot see with our eyes but we can see with our hearts or sense with other organs -- then amazing things will happen.
When my husband and I moved back to Australia and were setting up home, we found a stone wall hanging tablet thing (sorry don't know what to call it!) that we had to buy. It had a sparkly butterfly on it (Mum loved sparkles!) with the word HOPE written under it. Most of you know my story about Mum and butterflies. For those who don't -- forgive me those who do! -- at my Mum's wake, we were two stories up and a gorgeous turquoise butterfly flew by (Mum's favorite color was turquoise). It was the strangest thing -- but I just KNEW it was Mum!
At the time, she sent me an amazing array of turquoise creatures -- including dragonflies! And all the time I just knew it was her! It was very strange but comforting.
Butterflies would hover around my head and sometimes land on my shoulder after that time. When we sit in our little back garden at home, a butterfly will fly by -- always! I can have been inside for hours looking out and not spotting a butterfly and as soon as we are outside, one floats by.
Well, the day we put the stone tablet on a wall outside, we were sitting down and within 3 or 4 minutes, this gorgeous butterfly landed right on the sparkling butterfly and stayed there for at least a minute! Amazing. But then all things spiritual are amazing!
So I say we can "communicate" with those who have transformed! We just need to put on special ears and eyes! Send them love and gratitude for all they did for you, and look to see how they are trying to connect with you.
If my Mum has anything to do with it, you will soon be seeing sparkling butterflies all over the place and get goosebumps when you do!
LOL -- laugh, love and live out loud!
Zooties!
Amanda