Butterfly

We all love butterflies. They are absolutely beautiful. Their colors, their patterns, their strong wings, the way they so carelessly flutter from one beautiful flower to another... But, we don't always think about all they went through to become a butterfly. We don't think how they started as a tiny egg on the bottom of a leaf. Or how they had to crawl as a caterpillar and eat all the things! What if that caterpillar had been happy to stay as a caterpillar and just eat? He would never know how beautiful he could become. We don't think about the time he spends building the cocoon and sitting all snug in there. We don't even think about the effort it takes to break out of that cramped space and flourish to become the butterfly!

The gospel has an amazing transformative power. We are and always will be children of our Heavenly Father, but it is with the gospel that we can work to become more like Him. It is through the power of the Atonement that we can truly become perfect and live with Him again. 

During conference I was listening to all of the things the prophet, apostles, and other leaders of the church invited us to do. It was exciting but a bit overwhelming. There are so many things I want to do and so much more I want to become. I want so badly to be that beautiful butterfly but sometimes feel like that chunky caterpillar. I want to fly, but all I can do is scoot around an inch at a time. I became so overwhelmed with all I wanted to do with what I learned at conference, personal commitments, work, and church activities. I wanted to be involved, but I got stretched so thin with everything I wanted to do that I ended up not doing much of anything.

This week I have been trying to refocus on what is important and what I really want to do. I went to linger longer at church even though big, loud crowds scare me. I have been being more personal at work with my volunteers working on not only remembering but commenting on things they have shared with me instead of just saying hello and asking them how they are. Today, I even had an evening volunteer come in, and we started chatting. At one point he just stopped and looked at me and then looked at Dylan before he said, "You know, Dylan, when I walk in Megan's smile just lights up the room. You just don't compare." He was kind of kidding but kind of not. I laughed, but it made me feel so good. I went to institute today and stayed after to talk to people. And, best of all, I have time with friends and family scheduled in for later in the week.

I am going to continue to find the things that matter most to me and continue to work on becoming a butterfly in my own right while working to remember that I have been one all along.