Some surprise visitors are welcomed company

By Andrea Freedman

Last weekend while enjoying an outdoor visit with my parents, as we often do, the conversation veered toward my sister. This time, however, almost immediately upon us mentioning her name, a beautiful butterfly appeared out of nowhere.

Since losing my sister two and a half years ago, I have begun to associate butterflies with visits from her. This has been especially true when a butterfly I have come across was mostly black in color, resembling my sister’s beautiful dark hair. Also, as my sister was quite the romantic, when she was in love she often spoke of experiencing the sensation of feeling fluttering butterflies inside.

There have been times over the past couple of years that I have been outside on my balcony thinking of my sister when suddenly a butterfly appeared and remained there for a surprisingly long while.

On another occasion one summer afternoon while I was sitting in the park feeling sad, a butterfly landed on my towel. I don’t know what it was, but something provoked me to say “Hi Sister” to this lovely creature. When the butterfly stayed with me for several minutes afterward in what felt like companionable silence, I was convinced that it was no coincidence.

There have been other times when I have spotted a robin and thought that it might be my grandmother coming to say hello, especially the time when one hopped along next to me on the sidewalk all the way down the street until I reached my destination.

Upon further investigation, I discovered that it is actually the cardinal that is more commonly associated with a visit from Heaven. Whether it is a bird, a butterfly or something else, I figure that, as long as we aren’t hurting anyone else, anything that makes us feel a little bit of happiness (especially these days) can’t be wrong.

I realize that some of you might be rolling your eyes right now, because not everyone believes in the idea of Heaven or the possibility that a loved one who has departed from Earth can visit us in another form. Of course everyone is entitled to their own feelings and opinions; for me, though, thinking this way helps to give my otherwise often troubled soul some peace.

The fact is, as many of us are unfortunately all too painfully aware, there is nothing more devastating than losing someone we love. As anyone who has experienced such a loss knows, no matter how much time goes by, some days it feels awful beyond words. No matter what anyone says, we each have to do what we feel we need to do in order to have a chance of continuing on with our lives in a positive way.

Butterflies and birds are free. Wouldn’t it be nice to think that the spirits of those who have left us can soar freely in paradise for all eternity, especially if they suffered from an illness?

I think I will go outside and enjoy some fresh air. Who knows? Maybe if I’m lucky I’ll see a butterfly.

Copyright © by Andrea Freedman 2021

To order a copy of my children’s fiction picture book, A Sister in Heaven, contact me at andrea.freedman@hotmail.com or pick one up at Israel’s Book & Gift shop in Thornhill, Ontario or Forster’s Book Garden in Bolton, Ontario.