Butterfly days

This monarch was one of many on my butterfly plant which my husband planted for me several years ago.  They have been abundant this year.  When the kids were young we had a tradition of "hatching a butterfly" every summer.  The yellow and black striped sweeties munch on milkweed plants along roadsides and in fields and we would find one to bring home and place in a glass aquarium, feeding fresh milkweed daily.  If we went on a trip, the caterpillar came with us, once even to Colorado where finding milkweed was a challenge but we found some in a village parking lot.  
On occasion we were blessed and could watch the miraculous transition times.  First the change of crawling to the top of a well placed stick and forming a J, then the spinning into a luminescent green chrysalis, then turning black to clear and the emerging into a small, damp butterfly.  The orange almost glowed.  In great excitement we would bring the butterfly outside to dry on a finger or tree branch until its wings were sufficiently dry and it could take flight.  Every time it seemed they emerged on a sunny day.  Such wisdom.
I watched this butterfly and reflected on its qualities of fragility, vulnerability and delicateness, alongside its fierce strength and resilience.  I have been feeling very fragile in my grief of watching my husband weakened and pained with cancer.  Some days are so difficult.  The worry, the unknown, the sadness, the fear of being alone, the anger of wishing he had done something differently, the caregiving, laundry, driving, shopping, meal prep, and back to worry again - an endless cycle.   But like the monarch, I am strong in my vulnerability.  I am led deeper into my faith, and my holding onto God as my lifeline.  Despite the agony of my days, there is always some peace.  I know I am held.  This knowing wells up from deep within.  My spiritual sisters carry me, friends, church, mother earth - all are supporting me day to day.   I can fly this journey.  May you find your own strength in the midst of your challenge also.  And may we remember, monarchs fly together.