Dragonfly

     After my husband and I got home from bible study my husband noticed something between the windshield and the console of our car.  It was a dragonfly that got stuck.  He was already dead, possibly from the 106 temps we had.  He took the dragonfly out, amazingly in one piece, and brought it in the house.  He thought the kids would like to see it.  My oldest daughter loves animals and science so she was all over this.  She looked at it under a magnifying glass and we listed on the board what she observed.  ( I was observing she was doing some school and didn't know it because she was having so much fun. LOL)  The last thing she mentioned was that the dragonfly no longer had any color because it was dead and dragonflies lose their color when they die.  I've never heard that before.  I asked my daughter, "Is that true?"  She said, "I think so.  Just like flowers lose their color when they die."  So we dug in and did research on dragonflies to see if it was true.  They are an amazing creation.  Each time I research things like this with my daughter I get so amazed at how God made every little thing in nature.  Nature can be beautiful, powerful, captivating, marvelous, mysterious, …  I marvel at the works of His hands. 

     Come to find out it is true.  Just like flowers, dragonflies lose their color when they die and rather quickly too.  I immediately saw a correlation between this and our walk with the Lord Jesus.  When we are living our lives for Him we shine with His beauty.  People marvel at the beauty of Christ in us.  As soon as we walk in death or sin, because the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), then we lose that beautiful color and turn ashy and black.  No longer attracting others as the Son reflects off us. Just like the flowers that are radiant in color and fragrance.  As soon as death/sin comes the flowers crumble and blow away with the wind.

     In this dark and hurting world people are longing for natural beauty that comes only from a life of someone faithfully walking with the Lord.  As we live a life of love we will be sweet smelling to the Lord (Ephesians 5:2) and reflect the mercy and grace Christ gave us at the cross. 

     Oh that we would marvel at the awesomeness of God's creation.  With that in mind remember that you are more important to God then any of His other creations.  You are the crown of all He made.  If this depresses you take heart.  God holds many beautiful colors for you to shine with for Him as you walk closer to Him.  He so desires to clothe you with colors that are far more marvelous than any flower or dragonfly. 

     In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise you Father in heaven. 

                                     Matthew 5:16