{"id":524,"date":"2011-01-20T01:46:52","date_gmt":"2011-01-20T01:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/?p=524"},"modified":"2011-01-20T01:46:52","modified_gmt":"2011-01-20T01:46:52","slug":"butterfly-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/2011\/01\/20\/butterfly-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Butterfly Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

For as long as I can remember, I have used the written word to reach out to others. Whether it is for a celebratory reason or in times of sorrow or strife, I have words to give.<\/p>\n

Although I am a Hands Free work in progress, this is one thing I have been doing right all along. In Hands Free Mama terms, I would call message writing one of my \u201cBright Spots<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regardless of how busy, tired, or distracted I am, somehow I always find the means to write a thoughtful note to someone at least once a day.<\/p>\n

And if it is a truly momentous occasion for someone very special to me, a poem is written.\u00a0 I have written over a hundred poems as gifts for people, and I hope to write a hundred more.<\/p>\n

One poem I wrote years ago is especially memorable. It is called, \u201cYour Mother Is A Butterfly.\u201d The very first version of that poem was written and framed for a dear friend after the birth of her second son.<\/p>\n

I will never forget what she said after reading it with tears rolling down her cheeks.<\/p>\n

She said, \u201cIf I ever have a fire in my home, first I will grab my children; then I will grab this poem.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the years I have met other extraordinary women who qualify as \u201cButterflies,\u201d therefore many different variations of the poem uniquely written for that particular person exist in the world today.<\/p>\n

I had never written a sequel to \u201cYour Mother is a Butterfly.\u201d Truthfully, I had never even thought about it\u2026.until last week. That is when I learned that one of the past recipients of a \u201cButterfly\u201d poem is facing the battle of her lifetime. Her son is currently undergoing chemotherapy for a brain tumor.<\/p>\n

I tried to imagine what she must be going through. One minute her life was moving along smoothly; she was happy; her family was happy\u2026and then BAM! Everything changes.\u00a0 Suddenly she is faced with questions, decisions, and emotions that no parent should ever have to experience.<\/p>\n

I immediately wanted to do something. I saw that dear friends in her area had created an extensive meal schedule that people could participate in regardless of their location. I thought about a personalized charm necklace that she could wear around her neck for strength. I considered a care package for long days at the hospital. But it didn\u2019t take long to realize that although those are all wonderful gestures, I am called to write.<\/p>\n

The poem began writing itself while in the grocery store, the gym, the carpool line, even during my dreams. And because these words come from something far greater than myself, this poem virtually wrote itself when I sat down to write.<\/p>\n

And here is the God-given message entitled, \u201cYour Mother is a Butterfly: Part 2,\u201d written about this extraordinary woman:<\/p>\n

Your Mother is a Butterfly: Part 2<\/span><\/p>\n

I once told you that your mother is a butterfly.<\/em><\/span>
\nShe is still a butterfly,<\/em><\/span>
\nBut she has risen to heights unknown to most.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

I stand in awe of this woman,
\nYour mother,
\nWho is a butterfly,
\nFor you, only for you.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Her wings are powerful,
\nSpanning extraordinary lengths to protect you.
\nIn the face of the most severe elements, she laughs and rises above.
\nYour mother is a butterfly,
\nFighting for you, fighting for you.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Her body is durable,
\nWithstanding undeniable pain, if only to spare you.
\nTo fears she cannot avert, she chases away with words of faith and love.
\nYour mother is a butterfly,
\nRising for you, rising for you.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Her colors are vibrant,
\nGlowing brighter with each arduous challenge and imposing obstacle.
\nWhen you are lost, her colors are your beacon of hope.
\nYour mother is a butterfly,
\nShining for you, shining for you.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Let her land on your shoulder; you will laugh.
\nLet her float about your head; you will dream.
\nLet her wings wipe your tears; you will smile.
\nLet her flight take your troubles; you will sleep.
\nLet her presence surround you; you will flourish.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

I once told you that your mother is a butterfly,
\nBut she is stronger, more durable, more vibrant than before.
\nBecause of you.
\nBecause of you.
\nYour mother is a butterfly,
\nAnd it\u2019s all because of you.<\/em>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

After I framed the poem and shipped it off in the mail, I found myself coming back to it. I read it and re-read it. And during one reading something struck me. \u00a0While I am certain that my friend inspired this poem, this message is meant to be read by many. While she displays grace, dignity, determination, and faith, she has raised many from their own depths. I strongly believe that this poem, written for her, is meant to do the same. Therefore, it is meant to be shared.<\/p>\n

And here is that message…<\/p>\n

I think about my Hands Free journey and my daily pursuit to let go of distraction to truly grasp what really matters.\u00a0 Some days I get it right. But some days I fail miserably. And because you are on this journey with me and have shared your thoughts, I know some days are better than others for you, too.<\/p>\n

But despite our missteps and failings, I don\u2019t know a single one of us who wouldn\u2019t fight like hell to protect our child or loved one if they were in danger, pain, or despair.<\/p>\n

The \u201cButterfly Part 2\u201d lives in all of us. And it is ready at a moment\u2019s notice to endure, protect, and shine with every ounce of strength it possesses.<\/p>\n

God only knows which one of us will have to rise to this occasion.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, I ask these two things:<\/p>\n

Support those who are living in the challenges and struggles of Life in Part 2. Open your heart and your mind and hear what you are being called to do to provide comfort, encouragement, love and hope.<\/p>\n

And cherish. Cherish each and every blessed day that you find yourself lucky enough to be living.<\/p>\n

I close today with an uplifting song that contains a message pertinent for today. Whether you are living gratefully in Part 1 or grasping for a ray of hope in Part 2, let the lyrics and melody of this song cover you, inspire you, and lift you like the wings of a butterfly.<\/p>\n

Click on the link below and get ready to dance to this inspirational song. If there ever was a Hands Free chorus, I imagine it would sound a lot like this one:<\/p>\n

Hey, hey, hey, no matter how life is today.<\/em><\/address>\n
There\u2019s just one thing that I got to say,<\/em><\/address>\n
I won\u2019t let another moment slip away.<\/em><\/address>\n
-Michael Franti \u00a0& Spearhead<\/span><\/h5>\n

Hey Hey Hey by Michael Franti & Spearhead<\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to your heart.\u00a0 What are you are being called to do? Push away daily distraction and grasp what really matters; answer your call.\u00a0 Start by clicking the “share” button below. Send this to all the \u201cButterflies\u201d you know. \u00a0There is someone in your life who needs to read this message today. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For as long as I can remember, I have used the written word to reach out to others. Whether it is for a celebratory reason or in times of sorrow or strife, I have words to give. Although I am a Hands Free work in progress, this is one thing I have been doing right […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":600,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,21],"tags":[1522,32,35,73,71,69,70,31,34,63,75,47,72,1519,74],"gutentor_comment":7,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/DSC_0001-e1295400833975.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1fUJF-8s","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/524"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=524"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/524\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}