On the Wings of a Butterfly

Once upon a time, there was a girl who spent her days in a lush, green valley, playing with her three butterfly friends. Although she liked to play, the girl also enjoyed sitting in the stillness, thinking about all the marvelous beings around her and how they all had such important places in the universe. Sometimes, she was so amazed by all of the surrounding beauty, her heart felt as though it could burst with love! That’s when she would lay down in the soft grass and let herself dream about the warm skies and the sweet smells of nature. Though the girl liked to share her thoughts, feelings, and dreams with her butterfly friends, she realized one day as one of them flew above her that the three of them were never with her at the same time. At that very moment, she noticed the most interesting design on her friend’s right wing. It looked like the letter “H.”

“That’s because I’m the Butterfly of your Head,” he said. “I sit on your ear when your thoughts are worried but I also prance above when they turn curious.” And although the girl felt such tenderness for her dear friend at that moment, he suddenly disappeared.

Then the second butterfly appeared and the girl began to study him. She noticed an even more intricate letter “H” on his wing. “I am the butterfly of your Heart,” he said. “I perch on your shoulder when your heart feels sad and heavy but I also dance around you when it’s full of love and hope.” Feeling such affection for her two friends, the girl started to wonder about all the fun days ahead with them when he, too, suddenly flew away. Then the third butterfly appeared and the girl saw a gorgeous “D” etched in her wing.

 “I’m the Butterfly of your Dreams. I swoon above you in a figure eight as you dream about the wonderful things you foresee for yourself and all the creatures of the universe.”

“You are all so beautiful and such lovely friends!” the girl squealed with delight. “But I do wish you’d all come to visit me at the same time.”

“Someday…” whispered the butterfly in her sweet, dreamy voice as she flit away.

The girl wondered, if I think, feel, and dream hard enough, all at the same time, will my three friends come to me at once? But she soon realized that this was exhausting. She couldn’t think straight, feel much of anything, nor sense any of her dreams. And because of this, not one of her butterfly friends reappeared. Frustrated, she began to cry and she didn’t stop until the sun went down. She then walked from the deep valley up the hill toward her home. When she reached the top of the hill, she was struck by the most gorgeous night sky she had ever seen, a curtain of dark velvety blue, a brilliant full moon, and thousands of stars winking at her. The girl’s heart drank in the beauty of the stillness while her head couldn’t help but wonder about the enormity of the galaxy. Overcome with all of her thoughts and feelings, she laid down on the dewy grass and quickly fell asleep. Almost instantly, she began to dream of an infinite world of peace, tranquility, and love. Suddenly, her three little butterfly friends began dancing in the sky above her.

“Sometimes, when you least expect it, your heart, your head, and your dreams all really do meet in the same place,” they whispered. And with that, they kissed her goodnight and fluttered away into the night.

to German Version