Dogs and Butterflies

I met a woman today at a native American information booth while enjoying my hometown's bicentennial celebration.  Dressed in her regalia she began showing my children and I a board filled with pictures of animals and symbols.
She asked us to select our favorite and she would explain each spirit animal. The kids were fascinated and spent several minutes selecting their animals. I glanced over the board rather quickly and two pictures seemed to draw my attention. The dog and the butterfly. As she described the butterfly's appearance of fragility she also spoke of the transformation that each butterfly has gone through to realize its full beauty and potential. Next she explained that the dog stands for loyalty and strength. She said that it represents the loyalty I have to my family, my children, my friends and to all around me in that I show kindness and respect for others and Mother Earth. She also spoke of the dog's strength in combination with the transformation of the butterfly indicates that many changes in close succession have been or will be a part of my life and that I will gain new strength with each challenge and each transformation. 

She went on to say that I am guided by these spirits and have their traits within me. That through my strength and loyalty I will remain firmly rooted on mother Earth and show my beauty through my perseverance. As she spoke she placed her hand on my shoulder and I could feel pain leaving my heart. Not physical pain but sadness and worry. The weight I carry on my shoulders every day became lighter. With that touch and her description of so much close to my heart I was given a sense of peace. A feeling of renewed determination and confidence.

I know many would see that as a fortune teller using a person's appearance and behavior to "read" them. I am certain the worry and hurt were evident in my eyes and my expression, but knowing that she was able to read me and chose to provide comfort to a stranger was a comfort in itself.

We have all been judged and found lacking at some point in our lives. It is not right or good for one to make another feel inadequate, to feel like a failure, especially when all the facts are not known. I have also had the good fortune to develop strength and determination to face the challenges head on, with confidence.

As Eleanor Roosevelt so wisely said, "no one can make you feel inadequate without your consent."
I withdraw my consent or any imagined consent others have to make me feel inadequate or "less than," effective immediately.

I am preparing myself for the next transformation, the next opportunity to demonstrate my strength and courage to my children so they will never allow another person to make them feel inadequate. I want them to think every day what the wise woman told them about their spirit animals. I want them to learn from her descriptions and see that they are very much like the animals they selected. Animals that are not ever discussed as favorites a home.
 

My daughter selected the deer, a young doe with white flecks in fact. The deer stands for gentleness. The flecks suggest freckles, which she has. The freckles are indicators of God's love for her and represent his kisses and the kisses of those loved ones  who have gone on.
 

My son selected the squirrel. The squirrel is said to be a gatherer or a collector. Squirrels are also seen as clever and generous, suggesting he will have what he needs or more and will not be stingy, that he will share his gifts with those he loves and that he will use his talents wisely.
Those attributes identified by the Wise  Woman are the attributes I want to watch grow and develop in myself and my children over the coming years as we face transformations in our home, our hearts and in our surroundings.

Those few moments with the Wise Woman, someone I had never met before, brought me more peace and showed me once again the importance of kindness to others. She was truly concerned for the sadness she felt in my spirit and sought to take some of the weight and pain from me. She truly demonstrates love and respect for others, honesty and kindness and the willingness to comfort a soul in need, a person who can offer no payment but gratitude. 

I want to live by that example, teach my children to seek to help others, others who may not even realize they need the help. This Wise Woman showed me care and compassion,  she saw my need and met it.  She took the opportunity to treat another as she wants to be treated. She took a moment to comfort and care for a stranger. In just a short time she demonstrated the love for others I have heard spoken of so often but witnessed rarely.

To this Wise Woman, I say thank you. I will take all that I learned from you and do all that I can to provide that same comfort to someone who needs it.