Tag: nature

When the Ugly Comes Out

Hayley T Williams
Photo by Puwadon Sang-ngern on Pexels.com

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

If you have read any of my prior posts before, you know I have an interest in butterflies. Over the past few years I have learned how to collect the caterpillars, watch them form their chrysalises, and the most rewarding part is to set them free once they emerge as beautiful butterflies. Well this year, we had a different experience. One that left us somewhat distraught, but also in awe of nature. I had six swallowtails that had been in chrysalises for several weeks. I just figured they may overwinter and will hatch out in a few months.

One morning I went to open the window blinds by the table where my butterfly box is. To my surprise, I noticed a red wasp there. My first thought was how the heck did that wasp end up in that box. I had cut some zinnias and put them in the box the previous day. Maybe they were somehow on the flowers. As I was going in to get the wasp out, I noticed another wasp so at that point I ended up taking the box out on my deck to remove the unwanted guests. I thought it was odd but didn’t give much more thought to it. My daughter who happened to be home around lunch that day, noticed a third wasp and called me.

When I got home that afternoon, I went and checked the chrysalises. I noticed a black hole in one and instantly thought oh that isn’t good. I got on Google to see if I could find out what in the world was going on. Some information I came across that was troubling but yet when you think of nature and its complexities, it can leave you in awe at times. I found out that Trogus wasps will lay an egg in or on the caterpillars, so when they are in the chrysalis going through metamorphosis, unfortunately the caterpillars get eaten by the wasp larvae. Brutal huh? We were mind blown. My daughter was like so we raised wasps instead of butterflies. Unfortunately that seems to be the case this time.

Sure enough we had found three wasps, and checked 3 of the 6 chrysalises and they had holes in them and were empty. I checked the other three and so far no signs of harm, but I guess if we start seeing wasps again we will know they too have become victims.

While trying to wrap my brain around what had happened, I couldn’t help but feel the words “when the ugly comes out” being impressed on my heart. I felt some conviction that maybe God was wanting me to do an examination on my own heart because eventually the ugly stuff we harbor on the inside has a way of manifesting its way out no matter how hard we may try to keep it hidden. Sometimes we think we are good “stuffers” when it comes to our emotions. Hurt. Disappointments. Anger. Bitterness. Jealousy. Frustration. No matter how far we try to push those down inside of us, eventually they will rise and come out. They can even affect areas of our life that we are unaware of. We must ask God to help us deal with these emotions and usually it is not a one time ordeal. It is a process. A life long one indeed. We can carry on with our day to day lives convincing ourselves that we have moved on and the past is the past when one little action can take us back to that moment when the ugliness had us stuck. We all have our triggers. Maybe it was a social media post, words spoken by a friend, or just lies being whispered to us from the enemy. I have found this is why leaning on God is so important. Talking to him in prayer and being honest about the emotions we carry around in our hearts. Reading the Bible daily. Putting on the full armor of God as in the book of Ephesians. Laying whatever issues may be troubling you at his feet. And here is the big thing – leave it there!! Why is that so hard to do? I personally tend to surrender my burdens over to him, only to pick them up and take them back. Learning to let go can be difficult, but it is freeing when we can do so.

I recently heard a sermon about how vital it is to guard our hearts. We need God’s help with this. Whatever we allow to reside in our hearts will overflow into our daily lives. Be on guard. Be intentional. Protect your peace. Don’t let the ugly take up residence and win. Kick it to the curb and allow God’s word to come and settle in. That way you can be filled with joy, peace, gentleness, patience, love, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control.

Below is a picture of the chrysalises from where the wasp emerged. Crazy, huh?

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

The Little Joys Along the Way

Hayley T Williams

One evening, I went out to my garage to sit with my dog Dixie and read my devotion. It was drizzling rain outside, so I just sat with the door open to listen to it rain and soak in some encouragement from God’s word. I had been texting with a friend about some of life’s issues. Things we will never understand, but we have to endure and do the best we can to navigate through them. Feeling a little discouraged, I read a few pages from my devotion. The rain had ceased, so I walked out to check on my flower garden.

I first noticed a glimpse of a rainbow in the eastern sky and it made me reflect on God and his promises. I actually said out loud, “I trust you Lord.” As I made it to my front flower bed, I noticed one of my plants was halfway eaten. In all honesty, I had forgotten what this plant was. It never bloomed, but I knew I had obviously planted it at some point. The closer I got, the more excited I became. I saw my first Monarch caterpillar!!! I get Eastern Swallowtails every year, but I have never had a Monarch. I then realized the half eaten plant was milkweed. I had two different kinds in that bed. I checked out my other milkweed plant and there were 2 more caterpillars. I was so excited. It was in that moment that I felt God whisper to my heart, I see you, child. You are not forgotten and I am still working on your story. That is the thing about God. He does see us. He knows what makes us smile and in that moment he knew I needed encouragement.

I called my daughter to tell her the surprise I had just found so she could come out to see them. My butterfly box was full currently with 8 Swallowtail caterpillars who were already in their chrysalises. I ended up calling my neighbor, the one who has taught me about how to plant certain plants to attract butterflies. He let me borrow another butterfly box so I was able to collect the 3 Monarch caterpillars and bring them inside to watch their transformation process. I think one reason I am drawn to butterflies is the miraculous transformation that takes place between being a caterpillar and becoming a beautiful butterfly. Once grounded, but then free to fly in the open sky. It reminds me of the work God can do in our lives. It is not always easy, but if we trust him and follow him, he can take the ugly parts of our life and turn them into a beautiful masterpiece.

I am learning that there are so many joys that I overlook every day because my mind and focus is on the future. I am rushing around trying to get stuff done so I can tackle the next thing on my to-do list. I get so distracted by the “what ifs” that I totally miss the gifts right in front of me. May God help open my eyes and hearts to these little wonders. I pray I can slow down and be more present in the everyday moments I have been given. Each day truly is a gift and I need to do better at treating it as such.

Hayley W

Hope is Our Anchor Through the Difficult Seasons

Hayley T Williams 
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;  (Hebrews 6:19)

In 2024, I turned my vegetable garden into a pollinator garden. I had help from a neighbor who is very knowledgeable in all types of gardening. He helped me get the plants I needed that would provide host plants for the caterpillars, but then also plants that would provide the nectar that the butterflies would feed on. I ended up being able to watch the whole transformation process of several Black Swallowtails. The life cycle of these little guys is nothing short of a miracle to witness. I had a second batch in late August and since we were going out of town, I asked one of my daughter’s friends if she would like to keep them so she could witness the transformation. I informed her of what she would need to do and I believe all the chrysalises hatched except one or two.

I had let her borrow my butterfly box and when I got it back, I just set it out on the hot water heater in my garage. This is the box I use where the caterpillars stay until they enter the chrysalis stage and eventually hatch out. I never thought about cleaning it out. This was around mid- to late September.

It was November 22 and I was trying to pack up and get ready to go on a weekend trip with my mom, sister, and my daughter. It was a much needed get away as November had been a pretty stressful month. I went out in my garage and was coming in when something caught my eye. I stepped back out of the door into the garage and looked to my right and couldn’t believe my eyes. There was a Black Swallowtail that had emerged in my box. Since I had never cleaned the butterfly box out from its prior use that one unhatched chrysalis had stayed in there. It had been at least 2 months since the last batch of butterflies had hatched. I was so surprised and excited to see that butterfly.

It was at that moment that God gave me a overwhelming sense of hope for the season I was in. It was a season of constant stress and worry. I felt as if God whispered to my heart to hang on because change was coming so just be patient. He knew I needed that encouragement and that boost of hope.

Sometimes the seasons we go through can be dark and painful, but I was reminded in that moment of the butterfly. That little one that had just emerged had been tucked away in that dark chrysalis for 2 months. I am sure the process was long and sometimes painful but look at the beauty that was a result from it. God can also bring beauty to us at the end of those weary seasons. Sometimes it can show up right in the middle of the darkest moments. I knew I had to release that butterfly and I was concerned because of the cold temperatures and the gusty winds. I wondered if it would survive, but then I reminded myself that God already knew the moment it would hatch. He cares about his creation and prepared that butterfly for that moment. The same goes for our lives. Nothing that happens in our lives catches God by surprise. He is all knowing and he is with us always.

I pray that if you are in a difficult season right now, God would send some hope and encouragement your way. He loves you. Don’t give up and don’t stop praying.

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W