Strength from adversity (an amazing Story..)

6 replies
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.

Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at 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 was never 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 God'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 God allowed us to go 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.



This story has helped me through tough times, hopefully it does the same for some of you.
#adversity #strength
  • Profile picture of the author loi77
    Great story!

    Very motivational and inspirational.

    It is indeed through our struggle that we actually thrive.

    Thanks!
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  • Profile picture of the author ImWendy
    Aw, poor butterfly!

    Reminds me of the parable my pastor talked about a tree. One tree was easily knocked over because it was never exposed to harsh elements, but the one tree that still stood was the one exposed to windstorms of the past.

    I'll remember this next time I encounter some difficulties. Thank you.
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  • Profile picture of the author kevinbang
    great story...
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  • Profile picture of the author InternetGeneral
    Very inspiring.

    Struggle is the key to finding success. Fail and try again. Stronger when you fall.
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  • Profile picture of the author lotusdragon
    http://youtu.be/orxEawi9qro

    Glad you posted this though is sad for this butterfly.

    It is perhaps related to turning Karma into Dharma
    when we can transcend our troubles and turn what we have learnt from them
    into something we can help others from.

    In mythology and astrology there is Chiron the wounded healer,
    who creates a healing salve from his wounds.
    Many therapists, counsellors and healers have this strongly placed.
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    Loving making an abundant living whilst helping make a difference in our wonderful world
    Considering your customer as friend or family engenders trust and loyalty
    If you feel the same and are into such as Green Lifestyles, Alternative Health and Self Dev
    or exploration of more client centred business models it would be lovely to connect
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  • Profile picture of the author David Sneen
    We do need to struggle for things we get, or we will not appreciate them. That is why the rich kid who gets everything handed to him often ends up being a total jerk.

    That is an amazing story. It is amazing the checks and balances nature has.

    ...now to my purpose here on the WF. I am grateful for my struggles. The help here is awesome. It is far better to learn for myself, and struggle than to pay an expert to build me an income from the ground floor.
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    David Sneen
    It's what you do when no one is watching
    that determines what you will be able to
    do when everyone is watching.
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