In keeping with our theme over the past two days, diagnosis with Acute Leukemia, I thought we could focus our Sunday Discussion on the importance of struggles in our lives. While doing some research I came across this story. I think it contains a wonderful message, and could make for an interesting discussion. What makes the story so wonderful, is it illustrates just how important it is that we go through struggles in our lives.
"A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. So the man decided to help the butterfly, he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were nature's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life.
If we went through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. And we could never fly. So have a nice day and struggle a little. When you are under pressure and stress, remember that you are a better person after you have gone through it." - Author Unknown
I would love to hear your thoughts on the story? Do you think it is a good parable about the importance of struggles? Do you even think struggles are important, if so why? I am looking forward to a good discussion today. Oh and if haven't done so already, remember to sign up for a RSS feed or email subscription, it will make your life much easier in keeping up with the newest posts ;)
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A best story.. A butterfly objective is to fly.. without fly it can't reach their life
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ReplyDeleteSo glad to see you visited my site. I hoped you liked it. Also, I agree the story makes you almost sad. The man thought he was doing a favour but instead it turned to disaster.
Makes you wonder, when we try to take shortcuts in life is it really worth it or do we more often than not end up like the butterfly not being able to fly? anyone have any thoughts?
Good sunday to one and all,
ReplyDeleteLife is a struggle from day 1 if you think about it. Nothing comes easy but it certainly has it's rewards. Your first word, first step and actually, I may have fast forwarded a bit.adl
I think struggle is definitely important in learning all the lessons that life has to teach you. If you look at the story not only did the butterfly not learn to fly by being let go early, the man learned a valuable lesson by helping the butterfly go too soon. He had to struggle with the notion that he crippled a butterfly from flying by making trying to help. But then that brings up another question should we jump to help those in need or are we crippling their learning process?
ReplyDeleteI believe there is a happy medium. Its the same when you raise your children - you have to know when to pick them up but know when to let them fall. I think you should lend a helping hand to teach but not to stifle them. Parents struggle to find that balance.
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