A Miraculous Change

"What's that?" asked Nevaeh when her brother showed her a pale green object dangling from a branch. "Isn't it cool?" said Dakota. "It's called a chrysalis, and there's a caterpillar in there. Or at least, he used to be a caterpillar."Nevaeh frowned. "I don't like caterpillars." As she went into the house, she saw her mother wiping tears from her eyes. "What's the matter?" Nevaeh asked."I just got a phone call," Mom said softly. "Grandma Carter died.""Oh no!" Nevaeh burst into tears. "I don't want her to die!"Mom took her into her arms. "I know, honey. This is a sad day, but we can find comfort in knowing Grandma is in heaven with Jesus."Nevaeh and Dakota had never known anyone who had died. They were a little nervous when they went with their parents to the funeral home and walked up to the casket where Grandma lay. "She looks like she's asleep," said Nevaeh softly. The next day, the kids attended the funeral service with their parents, and after the service, they all went to the cemetery.Nevaeh was quiet as they sat on the patio that afternoon. "I thought Grandma was in heaven, but they put her in the ground," she said at last. As she spoke, Dakota came over carrying the branch with the chrysalis dangling from it. Only a thin, clear film remained. "Look," he said. "This is just an empty shell now."Mom nodded. "The caterpillar spun a chrysalis around itself. After a while, it burst open and a beautiful butterfly came out.""I love butterflies!" said Nevaeh. "They're much more beautiful than caterpillars.""That's a good example of what has happened to Grandma," said Dad. "Remember how sick she was? She has left her body, and now it's like an empty chrysalis. It was buried in a grave today, and Grandma's soul has gone to be with Jesus. But one day Jesus will resurrect Grandma's body and make it like new. When that happens, Grandma will have a new body that will never get old or sick and will never die. Jesus will give us new bodies then too--bodies that will last forever!"Just then a butterfly fluttered past Nevaeh's nose. "Look!" she exclaimed. "A caterpillar in his new body." -Barbara J. Westberg