The cocoon and the Butterfly

I recently came across this story in the Miranda Kerr book ‘Treasure Yourself’ (2010, Hay House). I wanted to share it so you could interpret it in perspective of your own life, family, surroundings and challenges.

It was the early blossoming of spring and a girl was wandering through a garden when she discovered a cocoon hanging from the branch of a tree. It was almost time for a butterfly to emerge. Fascinated with her discovery she returned to the garden daily, enthusiastic to see all that would happen and hoping to never miss a thing.
One day a small opening appeared and the girl saw the butterfly struggling to free itself from the cocoon and enter a new world. She watched intently – until the butterfly seemed to have stopped making progress. It appeared as if it had gone as far as possible and could go no further.
The girl made a sudden decision; she began to remove pieces of the cocoon that were obstructing the butterfly. Excited, she watched as the butterfly emerged, hoping its wings would unfold. But her excitement turned into dismay as the butterfly remained unable to move.
It was then that the girl realised what was happening: the cocoon was intended to create the struggle necessary for the butterfly to fly. In fact, it was not trying to escape….this was nature’s way of making its wings stronger. It occurred to the girl that the butterfly would actually be grateful to the cocoon for the struggle that they would share.

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