Did you know that every October 3rd is National Butterfly and Hummingbird day? This annual day is a day to commemorate these small, flying beings. The magic of seeing a hummingbird hovering around its feeder or a beautiful butterfly in my path always brings a smile, and as a spiritual person, I also feel like it is a sign from the angels that they or my loved ones are around.
I have two interesting stories about both butterflies and hummingbirds that center around my Mother’s passing, and remind me of the love and bond between mothers and their children, which is why I was reminded of the following poem, A Mother’s Love.
Months before my mom passed away in 2016, I purchased an Apple watch. These little devises were fairly new to the market, and my Mom had made fun of them as she saw people answering their wrist to take a phone call. She said it was very “James Bond”. So I kept my wrist hidden from her when I wore my watch so that she wouldn’t poke fun at me. But one day my phone did ring while in her presence, and I did answer it on my wrist while I dug my phone out of my bag, so the jig was up (and yes, she did make fun of me as I spoke into my wrist!) Being a newbie to the Apple Watch, and not being very technologically savvy, I had no idea that the watch came with the capability to change the screensaver. When I first put the watch on my wrist, it was set to the default screen, which was a lake and mountain daytime scene. I was thrilled that night when I saw it was an interactive screen, and that the daytime scene had turned to night with the moon now shining brightly over the lake. I wasn’t aware that there were any additional options to change the screensaver, and I happily wore my watch with this lake scene and marveled at the technology as every day I watched as it changed from day to night.
Several months later, my Mom was being admitted to hospice care. All day long I had marked the hours before she was transmitted to the facility by looking at my watch and the daytime lake scene. When my family arrived at the facility to get her checked in, we were speaking with the front desk personnel, and I happened to glance down at my watch just to mark the time that she was admitted. To my surprise, my watch screen had changed…to a butterfly! And this screen too was interactive, as the butterfly wings flapped. Then I watched with wonder as the screen changed to reveal several other butterflies, all with flapping wings. I have no idea how this happened as I did not know how, or that I even could, change the screensaver. Since then I have learned how to change it, and on occasion I have accidentally changed it to something else, but I always revert back to my butterfly screensaver. I am not sure how it happened that day, but I took it as a sign from my angels and guides that my Mom was at peace in her final days and that all would be okay.
A few days later, after the inevitable passing, we were at the funeral home making arrangements for my Mother’s service. I happened to stand up and look out the window, and I saw no less than six hummingbirds outside the window. Now, to be fair, there was a hummingbird feeder hanging, so it was no surprise to see the flock of these beautiful birds, but the fact that I happened to stand up and look out the window at that moment in order to see them is another sign that all was as it should be, and I felt such a feeling of peace.
Have you heard about 11:11? If you encounter this number, many believe it is a sign that angelic beings are near, offering love, protection, and guidance. Many times I will happen to glance at the clock right at this precise time, and I always say hello to my angels and guides and thank them for watching over me. I do realize the clock displays this time and these numbers twice a day. But it is the fact that I happen to glance up, at that exact minute and hour, and notice this number sequence that makes this event unique. There are sixty minutes in each hour, and sixty opportunities to glance at the clock. Maybe on an average day during an average hour I might glance at the clock fifteen to twenty times (maybe more if it is a grueling work day or if I am excited about an event later that day and am trying psychically to nudge the clock forward). So the odds of capturing that exact moment in time is not guaranteed every day. That’s what makes it special when it does happen, or when I happen to see that number sequence elsewhere, like if my total bill while shopping or grabbing food totals $11.11, I take this as a nod to the universe and say my thanks. This is how I felt about the hummingbirds outside the funeral home window. They are probably always there. And many people probably come and go and never notice them. But I did. Something prompted me to go look out the window and that precise moment. And that is what brought me peace and light at a very dark moment in my life.
Do you have any stories related to these amazing flying creatures, or any other animals or signs that you relate to a message from a deceased loved one? I know many people relate to butterflies, dragon flies, or cardinals. My friend had an unusual encounter with a lizard, and now associates lizards or geckos as a sign from her late husband that he is watching over her. I would love to read about your encounters so feel free to post in comments.
A Mother’s Love
Sometimes you cannot substitute
A mother’s love and care.
You can’t replace the tender touch
Or the smile that’s always there.
How does she find the time to do
The things she needs to do,
And still have time left in her day
To give her love to you?
Where does she find the energy
To always give so much,
And let you lean your weight on her
As if she was a crutch?
No matter where you travel,
She’s always in your sight
To lend a reassuring word
That things will be alright.
For long ago, inside her body
Your life had begun.
Although you are two people now,
Part of you will be one.
Long before you saw the world
She realized your worth,
And loved and cared and nurtured you
For months before your birth.
As infinite as sun and sky
And waves upon the sand,
Her love is there throughout your life
To lend a helping hand.
You cannot help but grasp the helping hand
That grasps your own.
You need that strength from time to time
Although you are full grown.
You thought you didn’t need her
When you cut the apron string.
But still you need your mother’s touch
To dry the tears that sting.
But never fear, her love is there
Come Hell or flooding waters.
For a mother tends to shower love
Upon her sons and daughters.
But a mother is a person too,
She needs love in return.
To NOT take her for granted
Is a lesson we must learn.
So tell your mother “Thank you”,
It’s not so hard to say.
To tell her that you love her
Is so small a price to pay.
It’s with these words that I give thanks
And with these words I pray,
To do the best that I can do
To be like her someday!
