GriefShare- A Butterfly Release

We gathered on an ordinary Tuesday evening -

to remember and give thanks 

for our loved ones now in heaven. 

We need to remember the blessings and joy.

 They still matter to us.

 It is good to think about the freedom 

they now know from sin 

and every earthly struggle. 

We think about how the caterpillar disappears

 into a chrysalis.

 Something so drab, colorless and lifeless looking.

  It would seem that the end has come

 and there is no more hope for the lowly caterpillar. 

                                            And then . . . after a time of waiting,

                                      at just the right time,

                           the beautiful butterfly emerges.             

                                                     A familiar quote reads,

                              “just when the caterpillar 
                             thought the world was over,
                                  it became a butterfly.” 
                                      And so for us too, 
                                   the world is not over 
                            when we or a loved one dies.
                        The most wonderful life of being
                          in the perfect presence of Jesus
                                      is just beginning!

                       A Butterfly Release is a wonderful way
                              to honor our loved ones
                                and can actually be a 
                     time of emotional release as well. 
                       We order the butterflies from the 
                           Butterfly Release Company
                                      in Florida 
                           butterfly release company
                            and follow up the Release
                               with butterfly cookies
                     and all kinds of other refreshments.

 It becomes a pleasant time of fellowship

                                         with others 
                who are grieving the loss of loved ones 
                                     and reminds us
             that none of us are alone in the journey of grief.

The service for this event:

Thanks to Denise Wright- Journeys of Faith contributing writer.

Denise serves at St. John's Lutheran Church, in York, PA.,

where she is the Director of Spiritual Growth, and works as 

 the GriefShare coordinator.