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Featured writer, Patty
Zemanick
Dragonfly
Up
to my elbows in elbow pasta… making macaroni salad for my best friend’s
birthday party. I always make too much, but then how do you
know how much too much is when you’re feeding 40 people? I stood
at my counter chopping celery and onions when something buzzed past my
head. I looked up and saw a dragonfly. Seeing it inside my
house bouncing around in front of the kitchen window brought an instant
smile to my face. Reminded me of our Dragonfly Ministries website
and my friend, Mary Hamrick. Mostly it reminded me of a funny
request she made of God when searching for a dragonfly for her son’s
insect collection… Mary said, “God, I’ll know you love me if you give
me a dragonfly.” Just as she spoke those words she looked down at
the ground and low and behold there was one at her feet. Thinking
about her story prompted me to offer my own prayer. “Thank you
God for giving me a dragonfly and for showing me that you love me
too.” I continued with my chopping, greatly entertained by my new
flying friend.
As I was stirring, seasoning, tasting then stirring, seasoning and
tasting some more, my daughter came into the kitchen. She too saw
the dragonfly – only she was trying to capture it to put it
outside. I said, “No… no. Leave it! I’m enjoying it
in the kitchen with me.” Lindsey said, “Mom – it’s just an
insect. We need to get rid of it.” I said, “No… I want it
in here. Please leave it alone. It’s my new pet.” I said
with a half-grin. But in all seriousness – I felt it was a tiny
gift from God and it made me happy having it nearby, watching it
flutter around. Lindsey looked at me like I was out of my gourd,
but left it alone and we both went about our business.
The next morning while getting ready for work, I remembered the
dragonfly in the kitchen. My first thought was a joyful thought…
“I wonder if it’s still there at the window?” My next thought was
less joyful… “It was at the window for a reason. It wants OUT. I
need to let it go.” Rats! Double rats!!! I gently
cupped my hands around it – careful not to crush its fragile
wings. I pushed against the screen door, stepped out onto the
porch and opened my hands. When I did - it flew away.
A year from now Lindsey will be flying away – off to college a couple
of hours from home. I’ve tried to imagine what that will be like…
to fall asleep at night without her in the bedroom just above me, to
move around the house in the morning without calling upstairs… “Lindsey
– for the third time, you’d better get up or you’ll be late for
school,” or to eat a meal with one less seat occupied at the dining
room table. Where did the years go? Seems like just
yesterday when I would sneak into her bedroom and watch my sleeping
baby girl. I’d study her tiny little fingers and toes in total awe of
the masterpiece God created. A flash of memories… a trip to the
hospital for stitches, first day of school, soccer field goals,
learning how to drive. “God, can’t I keep her with me a little
longer? Her wings are so fragile and our world is so big.
Who will be there to pick her up when she falls, to wipe away her
tears, to remind her that she is loved unconditionally for
eternity?” And as I type these words right now – I can hear God’s
voice saying… I will be. I WILL BE!!!
"God Himself took charge of "Lindsey". He took "Lindsey" on as
His personal concern. He threw His arms around her, lavished
attention on her, and guarded her as the apple of His eye. He was
like an eagle hovering over her nest, overshadowing His young. Then,
spreading her wings, lifting herinto the air, teaching her to
fly. -- Deuteronomy 32:9-11"
Who is your dragonfly? Who do you hold in your hands? Is it
your graduating senior? Is it an aging parent? Is it a best
friend who is moving away? Is it someone you believed you’d spend
the rest of your life with and now is gone? How do you let
love fly away? How do you let go? I guess the answer is to
trust God to take care of your beloved… to thank Him for allowing you
to experience love – and for making your life richer because of
it. Then you gently cup your hands around your little dragonfly,
careful not to crush its fragile wings, carry it outside and set it
free.
Fly little dragonfly fly… go with God.
Patty
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