"FIREFLIES"

I have been a transplanted city girl from Hollywood, California to Fort Smith, Arkansas for many years now, yet, still, I eagerly look forward to the change of seasons—especially from winter to spring.

Just when I think I can’t bear another freezing, gloomy day, I spot a yellow daffodil poking up through the snow. It signals me that God knows just how much I can take and He always has a new season of life waiting for me. Any time now the evenings will begin to warm up and the night creatures will begin their chirping and croaking down by our pond. Another signal from God that the season is changing, is an amazing sight that still thrills my heart—the flickering light and flight of the Firefly, otherwise known as a Lightning Bug.

The first time I saw a Lightning Bug was during a summer vacation at my Granny’s farm in Tyler, Texas. My country cousins gave my sister and I empty glass fruit jars with holes poked in the lids. They taught us the fine art of catching those glowing bugs, and how to crush them on our fingers to make "diamond rings". We looked forward to dusk and spotting their flashing lights and chasing and capturing them in the jars. None of my friends in Calif. had ever seen or even heard of a Firefly.

 One summer I decided to prove to them that there really were bugs that floated through the sky and flashed little lights as they flew. The evening before we were to return to California. I spent hours chasing after those bugs--barefooted, and stepping on "sticker-burrs"--..but it was worth it when I finally had a glass jar full of the glowing bugs. I remember putting them on a little table by the big old iron bed with the lumpy feather mattress and lying down and watching them as I fell asleep. I was so excited to prove to my friends that there really were bugs that glowed in the dark! Of course, by the time we had traveled Route 66 back to California. -- across the desert, all I had left was a jar full of dead, decaying yucky bugs...And none of my little friends believed a word I said.

I remember saying over and over to one of my friends, "But it IS true...I SAW it with my OWN EYES. I KNOW it is true!" Just like the Apostle John tried to relate the truth of Christ to others in I John, chapter one...."I saw Him...I touched Him...I heard Him...I KNOW it's true!" but, all that most people had seen was a dead man on a cross and they laughed and mocked in disbelief and missed the joy and the awe of God's Miracle...Just as they do today. It still is true that "A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still!"

 I kept that jar of dead bugs for many weeks, and stared at it on my bedside table as I fell asleep each night. The room no longer glowed from their presence, but something had taken place in my heart that I didn't understand then. Now, I realize that I was learning what faith was all about. It was during my tenth summer on earth that I learned to believe-- even if others laugh and mock me. I learned that the world says, "See and then you'll believe", but God says "Believe, and then you'll see!"

 God really did send His Son to this earth to light our way

and there really are bugs that light up, no matter what others say!

Jesus said…

"Do you believe because you see me?

How blessed are those who believe without seeing me!"

John 20:29

***Submitted by Sandy Rathbun....Fort Smith, Arkansas***