It was a bright August morning in Fort Smith, Arkansas, drops of morning dew leaking off the leaves. There were five white and yellow caterpillars in the garden playing, laughing, and eating from the leaves. They were all jolly and there were no differences amongst them all.
Then a big black and brown caterpillar crept into the flower bed, and he wanted to play just like the others. The white and yellow caterpillars looked at the black and brown caterpillar with disgust and didn’t want to play with him. Each time he’d follow one, the others scattered to the opposite direction. One of the caterpillars said,
“Get away from here! You are not one of us. You are black and ugly. We don’t want to play with you. Go find someone that looks like you to play and eat with.”
They all began to mock and laugh at the big caterpillar because he was different. The words pinched the heart of the big black and brown caterpillar like a firm hand squeezing soft grapes. The black caterpillar began to cry but he left and went about his business.
It came a time when caterpillars made their cocoons and the white and yellow caterpillars made theirs near each other. The black and brown made his cocoon alone in a silent place not far away from the others.
Like the snap of a finger, Spring arrived. Now, the caterpillars were not caterpillars anymore but beautiful butterflies. Their transformation was complete. The butterflies gathered and played like they had before, when they were caterpillars.
As they were laughing and playing together, a curious bird saw the bright colors and began to creep a little closer. He was curious about the colors of the butterflies, but he saw snacks.
The big black and brown caterpillar — now an enormous butterfly – saw the bird, but the bird could not see him because his colors camouflaged with the environment. A large sound startled the bird, so he flew away, and as he was leaving the other butterflies saw the bird leaving and they became frightened.
The big brown butterfly took the opportunity and flew to the other butterflies and spoke to them softly, encouraging them not to be afraid. He asked them to come near to him, and he’d protect them. Four of the butterflies listened and came within the wingspan of the big black and brown butterfly, and he told them not to be afraid. He would protect them.
One of the pretty white and yellow butterflies did not listen and looked upon them all with disgust. Then the wind came, and the black butterfly felt the breeze. He extended his wings over the four and camouflaged them.
It was the bird, he came back and quickly swallowed the stubborn butterfly, an instant snack. The bird looked around for more but then flew away when he could not find any more.After the bird was no longer in sight. The other butterflies came out of the camouflage and were happy. They began singing and laughing.
The big black and brown butterfly watched them and became sad as he began to go away. The other butterflies asked,
“Why are you leaving? You saved us. We want you here.”
The big butterfly then said,
**“I am the big black and brown caterpillar that you mocked and laughed at, and you were mean and chased me away. I learned a valuable lesson while I cried alone. I promised myself that I would never chase attention, regardless of how much I want to fit in and be loved. I would rather search for peace. Then I told myself to never listen to promises because they are only words – words that can be broken. I value my silence. It does not disappoint, talk nonsense, play with your mind and it does not judge. Silence is respected. It is unknown.
You only want me here now, for what I can do for you. It is not because you really want me here. I am not like disposable dishes: serve the purpose then thrown away after use. **”
Then after saying this the big black and brown butterfly flew away.
About the Author
I am the big black and brown butterfly. It was my life growing up. I wanted so badly to fit in and be accepted. I did not choose the color of my skin. I did not choose my looks or the characteristics that were given to me. I did not choose anythinggiven to me.
I have learned that while one or two people may not like you because of your looks, there will always be a third who does. We are all different, and that is what makes us unique. Jehovah God through Jesus Christ gets all the glory. He taught me to love. Even when the love is not returned.
There is a French phrase I hold close to my heart — it is so true:
« Je suis né sans le demander. Je vais mourir sans le vouloir. Alors laissez-moi vivre à ma guise. »
“I was born without asking. I will die without wanting. So let me live as I please.”