Sunday, August 17, 2008

Lady-Bugs and Finding my Way Home

I cannot help it.  I wasn't raised in a home where my brother and I were encouraged to look for something special or miraculous everyday.  I was not born to parents who particularly viewed the world with a sunshiny perspective.  There were no mentions of "rainbows and butterflies", or pretty little platitudes about how blessed we were to have a nice home to live in, with food on the table and clothes on our backs.  There was no talk of God, or a Higher Power, or guardian angels who watched over us guiding us like a loving parent.  There was no mention of prayer except for the couple of days a year when we made it to synagogue, and then it almost confused me.  As a matter of fact, it was not until my dear brother died, six months ago at the young age of forty-one, that I found out that my mother honestly, truly and without hesitation doubts the existence of God at all.
But as a child, I loved Lady-bugs.  I spent many a summer's day gingerly picking them up so that they could explore the surface of my skin, as I patiently rotated my hand in one direction to the next, counting their spots as they crawled.  If I found one in a precarious position or in the swimming pool, I would gently move it to a safer place while speaking to it in a small, quiet voice.  I discovered, at a very young age with very little assistance from anyone else, that yes indeed, Debra, there is a Guiding Force in the universe, and to me, that Force was God.  I couldn't help it.  The Lady-bugs were too perfect to have been created by accident.  Something deep within my soul just knew that.
When our angels were born, Mark and I knew that they needed to grow up in a world where God was a part of the family.  We sent them all to religious school, reinforced what they learned there at home and had them each become a Bat-Mitzvah.  I answered any questions that came up about my beliefs from a very young age, and reminded them that God is accessible.  I wanted them to understand that something as tiny as a Lady-bug or even smaller, like the microscopic aphids that the Lady-bugs feast on, were proof enough that there is a God.  

And so, they grew up knowing, even though I only grew up with the feeling that I wasn't alone.  The feeling that somehow, God was in the Lady-bug.
Watching my littlest angel carefully visit with this Lady-bug, yesterday, reminded me of how crucial it is to understand.  Her fascination and wonderment while examining this tiny creature reminded me that no matter how seemingly insignificant something might seem, it can make all of the difference between believing that it is all meant to be, or deciding that it is all a haphazard accident thrown together by chaos.  The look on AD4's face says that she loves Lady-bugs, too.  It brings me peace to know that my angels don't have to figure it out on their own.  They all know what Mark and I believe.  They can appreciate the Lady-bug as one of God's miracles.

There are so many paths which can lead to God.  May you find the one that brings you the knowledge and the peace to believe that you are not alone.  May you find your way to God in the simplest of miracles.  There are so many...

11 comments:

joanne said...

I truly believe that God lives in all living things ;)

Blue said...

your thoughts reminded me of one of my favorite songs from childhood, the words of which go:

I am a child of God
and he has sent me here
has given me an earthly home
with parents kind and dear...
lead me, guide me, walk beside me
help me find the way
teach me all that I must do
to live with Him someday.

(only I would silently change the words to the 4th line in my mind to "with parents kind of weird"...) ;-)

Still, I agree that just knowing who I am...that I am a child of a God, that one tidbit made all the difference in my life. I think it was the primary agent in keeping me from becoming disaster in every possible way.

Now if only everyone knew that about them self...

You sure do have a lot of cute little bugs in your life. and you must have a great camera. These are awesome shots.

Ness said...

Thanks for this beautiful post, Deb. I look at the miracle of having my last two children and know there is a God. I look at a warm, caring, loving husband that chose me from across the country and know there is a God. I look into the dachsies' eyes when we cuddle in the recliner at night and know that I will see them again in Heaven. I would like to learn more about your faith. I have been Methodist after becoming an adult and then put the kids in Catholic schools and at the end of 8th grade, Kelli wanted to convert to Catholicism and so the whole family did. Without my faith and belief in God, I wouldn't be here today. And seeing pics of your daughter and her ladybug gives me strength that the world is continuing to turn despite the turmoil in my life. Thanks, Deb. I love you to the moon and back.

John's Arts & Crafts said...

Great Article! I did two years of research there are over 5000 different spec. of Ladybugs. We had a problem with Ladybugs someone imported Ladybugs from Asia, your photo look like an Asian Lady-bugs generally, they are small then the Convergent Lady beetle, with more black spots. Some people claim the Asia Lady bugs are pest-invading people's home. Check out youtubes.com for video showing the Asian Lady-beetle inside people's homes. In December their will be a New Movie shown nationally, called "Lady-Bug"
Again, it is talking about the Asian Lady-Bug not the Convergent.
visit: http://www.thebestladybughouse.com

Laura ~Peach~ said...

i see God every day... in so many many things including ladybugs :) lovely post!~

Jennifer Chronicles (jenx67.com) said...

What a blessing to read this. I find myself thinking about you more than any of the other bloggers on my list. I thought of you the other day and was certain God had given me a word to share with you and in the stress of family and responsibilities, I forgot it. Last night, I was studying angels and I thought of you and your girls. When I read the part about you whispering to the Lady Bugs, I wanted to weep.

Lorrie Veasey said...

One of my very favorite sayings is
The Way To Know God is to Love Many Things.

Beautiful post, and I didn't for a second think that she should fly away home........

Irene Latham said...

Hi Deb - love the ladybug thoughts and pics. And thanks for pointing out our similar journeys this year... somehow it helps to know we are not alone in our times of grieving. I wonder if the ladybug feels the same way when s/he sees a similar creature on a nearby leaf? Thanks for being there. xxoo

Jennifer Chronicles (jenx67.com) said...

can you email me a picture so I can post it on my Flickr account - 50 Bloggers in 50 States group? Thanks, jen (Of a picture of something relating to California?)

Alison said...

I believe just like you do...just beautiful. I am reminded in this post to not rush through life...to slow down and look for the ladybugs. thank you, my friend.

Anonymous said...

Dearest Debra,
Oh yes, it's that wide-eye and wide-hearted wonderment that makes life so beautiful..and wonder-filled! Thank you for reminding us and capturing it in your words so eloquently; I know, it's Spirit's voice that comes through you dear sister. And, it's experiencing Nature's Wonders that feed the soul, and one of the best parts is they each have a message. The message our heart tells and and then wisdom of the ages that gets passed down.

Don't you know 3 lady bugs came my way on the same day recently? And now, I am reading your story about lady bugs. I thought you'd get a kick out of what I found online about ladybug symbolism - which you can read its entirety by scrolling to Ladybug at:
http://www.sayahda.com/cyc.html

here re a few snippets...

....Their life cycle requires about four weeks, so several generations are produced each summer. This ties the ladybug to the energies of renewal and regeneration. Those with this totem are usually family oriented with strong morals and social values.

...The name lady bug originated in the middle ages when this beetle was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and called the "beetle of our lady." This links the ladybug to spiritual idealism and religious devotion.

...This tiny little beetle packs a powerful message. Because the life cycle of the adult ladybug is short it teaches us how to release our worry and enjoy our life to the fullest. When it appears in our life it is telling us to "let go and let God."

...An adult ladybug can consume several thousand aphids and other scale insects within a few months. Since these can be harmful to crop production farmers and growers have long considered the ladybug a good omen.

...In spite of its size it appears to be fearless. A messenger of promise, the ladybug reconnects us with the joy of living. Fear does not live within joy. The need to release our fears and return to love is one of the messages it carries.

...Ladybug teaches us how to restore our faith and trust in great spirit. It initiates change where it is needed the most. When ladybug appears it is asking us to get out of our own way and allow great spirit to enter."
---

So..that's some food for thought to those of us whom the lady bug has visited... and it's rather delicious!

Please know how thankful I am that you are here, sharing beautiful life with all of us. You my dear..are an angel yourself.
with much love...
Cheryl

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