April 2017 Newsletter

A Caterpillar's Easter Story:

Annie Willis McCullough shares this warming story for Easter. “It was late in the fall when Fuzzy Caterpillar gave up. "I suppose this is the end of me," he thought in his little round head as he tried to wriggle across the road and couldn't because his back was so stiff. "Now I am old, old, old, and I shall never see another summer. Good-bye."

The winter was white, and cold, and long. Then it was over. Spring came over the hills, in a pretty new green frock with wild flowers in her hair. Spring was looking for the little creatures she loved so much; tiny ants, the patient spiders, the cheerful beetles, and Fuzzy Caterpillar. "Where is Fuzzy Caterpillar?" Spring wondered. She did not see him, all dried up and hanging in his gray blanket from the twig.

So she spoke to the grass. "Long Green Grasses," called Spring, "I want to make Out-Doors pretty, and celebrate the day that Fuzzy Caterpillar comes out. Will you cover the ground for me?" So the Long Green Grasses pushed their slender fingers up out of the earth and they covered the whole ground until it was bright and green again. But the Grasses looked everywhere, and they could not see Fuzzy Caterpillar.

Then Spring spoke to the trees. "Patient Trees," called Spring, "I want to make Out-Doors pretty, and celebrate the day that Fuzzy Caterpillar comes out. Will you cover your branches with new green leaves?" So the Patient Trees burst their hard brown buds, and they hung new green leaves upon every one of their branches. But the leaves looked everywhere, and they could not see Fuzzy Caterpillar. All they could see was a little rolled-up gray blanket hanging from a twig. But Spring was not discouraged, as she spoke to the Laughing Brook. "Laughing Brook, I want to make Out-Doors pretty, and celebrate the day that Fuzzy Caterpillar comes out. Will you run between your banks again, and sing a song?" So the Laughing Brook danced and tripped over its stones again, singing as it ran between its banks. Sometimes, stopping in a quiet pool, Laughing Brook could not see Fuzzy Caterpillar anywhere along its edge.

Spring Spoke to the flowers. "Sleepy Roots," called Spring, "I want to make Out-Doors pretty, and celebrate the day that Fuzzy Caterpillar comes out. Will you grow and send up plants that will bud and bloom?" So there were crocuses in purple petticoats, and daffodils in bonnets with yellow ruffles. There were tulips, red, yellow, pink, and white. They filled all the gardens. And the fields were golden in the sunshine because the dandelions had bloomed again. But the flowers could not see Fuzzy Caterpillar anywhere. Then Spring stood on the top of the hill and she looked all over the wide Out-Doors. It was very pretty again, so she decided that the day had come when she would celebrate. "This is Easter Day," said Spring. "But where is Fuzzy Caterpillar?" whispered the Long Green Grasses. "Where is Fuzzy Caterpillar?" rustled the New Green Leaves. "Where is Fuzzy Caterpillar?" tinkled the Brook so sadly that it did not sound like singing. "Where is Fuzzy Caterpillar?" the wind sighed as it blew through the flowers.

Just then a beautiful butterfly flew and lighted on the tip of Spring's finger. It had all the colors of Easter in its wings, the green of the grass and the leaves, the blue of the waters, and the gold of the spring flowers. It was such a beautiful creature that only to look at it made one feel happy. But every one wondered. "It’s a stranger from far away," they said. "Oh, no," said Spring. "Fuzzy Caterpillar has come out." It was true. The gray blanket that hung from the twig was torn and empty.” And so the butterfly of Easter coming our of the grey cocoon of winter became the symbol of new life in Jesus Christ. Jesus died on a cross, was closed into a tomb, then was raised to new life. On Easter morning came the glorious resurrection. He lives again still, each time one of us chooses to die to ourselves and be raised with Jesus in newness of life. Praise the Lord, Christ is Risen. He is Risen Indeed!

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