It was the Summer that everything broke. So far we’d had two broken washing machines, a dead DVD player, a cracked faucet, a broken chair, a flat tire, and vet bills for our oldest, ailing dog. All of them had seriously drained my savings and made me wonder what the heck was going on in my life. The latest problem had been a toilet tank that stopped filling. It was a 30 mile round trip to the only open hardware store but I made the drive. It did feel like the straw that broke the camel’s back and I was feeling both stressed and a little depressed from it all.

After picking up a new valve for the toilet tank I started driving home. Suddenly, a yellow butterfly fluttered in front of my speeding car. I knew I must have crushed it against the grill. I felt terrible. Ever since my Mom died 30 years ago butterflies had served as a special reminder of her love for me. In my heart I saw her spirit riding on the back of every butterfly that flew by me. Now I had killed one.

I felt an urging deep within to pull over as soon as I could and check the grill for the dead butterfly. I pulled over to a wide spot in the road and parked the car. I got out and looked down at the grill. The yellow butterfly lay flat against it but looked otherwise undamaged. I eased my finger down towards it and as soon as I did it took flight. It fluttered once around my head and then flew away with its golden wings shining in the sun. Tears filled my eyes and I thanked my Mom and God for this miracle. I knew too that it was a gentle reminder from above that no matter how broken the things in my life may get, I was loved and watched over from Heaven.

Don’t let the broken things in this life break you. Life is full of stress, strain and struggles but through it all you are LOVED. God loves you and God wants you to live a life of love, laughter, kindness, faith, and joy. May you always do so with a smiling face and a happy heart.