The Weight of a Butterfly
by Crying Wind
It had been raining for days and it was hard to tell whether the road to our farm was a road or a muddy river. My car was stuck in the mud and I'd spun the wheels, making the car sink even deeper. I walked to the neighbor's farm to ask for help and he suggested putting a long pole under the car and lifting it up until we could put some rocks and branches under the wheels. He had four husky sons who agreed to use their strong muscles to push down on the pole and lift the car.
My daughter, Spring Storm, was two years old at the time and when she saw the men struggling to push down on the pole, she climbed up and sat on the very end of it and perched there. She was so tiny, she barely weighed as much as a butterfly, but when she sat on the pole and smiled at the muddy men, they laughed and their spirits lifted and they threw all their energy into their task. The car was lifted up and we filled the deep ruts with tree branches and rocks and in minutes, the car was back on solid ground.
My daughter's weight didn't make any difference in the job, but her enthusiasm did. Her smile and her faith in the men encouraged them and inspired them to try harder until the job was done.
Sometimes we think we can't help people. Their burdens are too big, they need more time or help or money than we can give...but sometimes, all people need is a little faith and encouragement.
Maybe we can't do the big things...but sometimes doing little things with great love is more important than doing the big things, and sometimes encouragement, even if it is so small it only weighs as much as a butterfly, is the best gift we can give.
