The butterfly on the mountain

Funerals are always an emotional time for a family who loses a loved one. It is especially difficult when a child dies at such a young age.

We received a call from a mom who was very sad when she learned of her daughter death in a plane crash. Her daughter was only 20 years old and so full of life.

They lived in Washington State near Mt Rainer. They decided to climb the mountain release butterflies as they scatter their daughter’s ashes over the mountainside. The hike down the mountain took 2 hours but 1 butterfly followed them all the way down the trail. The mother called to tell us how special the butterfly release was and how she believed this one butterfly was her daughter’s spirit who didn’t want to say goodbye.

The next time I see a butterfly

A couple years ago we received a call from a bride who said “I have to have butterflies at my wedding because butterflies have always played a significant role in my life.” It turns out that 20 years ago she had an unplanned pregnancy and she was struggling with what to do. She was concerned with how she would get by as a single parent at such a young age. Every night for a week she cried and meditated but still couldn’t decide her fate.

One night she made a promise to herself. If she saw a butterfly either first on TV or in person she would keep the baby but if she saw a bat either first on TV or in person she would have an abortion. She went to bed satisfied that soon her decision would be made. The next morning she went to her apartment steps, where her and a few neighbors have their morning coffee. She was speaking to one of her neighbors and he made reference to the complexity of life and how he sometimes wished he were as free as a butterfly soaring in the sky. At that exact moment a beautiful Monarch butterfly flew past them and she immediately started crying and ran inside her apartment. The neighbor was clueless on what had just happened.

Well soon after, she had a baby girl and has never regretted it for a second. Now 20 years later she is planning her wedding with the man of her dreams and her daughter is her maid of honor. She ordered butterflies for all the guest to release and she cried, this time in joy, as the butterflies fluttered around her and her loved ones.