THE WHITE BUTTERFLIES

The White Butterflies

It's taken me a long time to write this story. That's because it
has to do with my son Jeff, who passed away last year at the
age of 23 years old. His death was an accident and happened
when he was camping up in the mountains in California. He
loved to go camping and it was on one his these camping trips
that he would lose his balance and would fall to his death and
leave this earth.

My friends know this. I have written dedications for him, which
are on the homepage of my web site. I guess the best way to
tell this true story is to just tell it the way it happened, about two
months after my son died.

I was at home by myself, talking to my sister on the phone one
day. I was in my office, and as my sister and I were talking, I was
sitting in the chair at my desk, looking out of my office windows.
I could see outside into my front yard. Well, my sister and I were
talking about my son Jeff and I was telling her how I'd always
loved white butterflies. I think we'd been talking for about an
hour or so, and I said I sure wish I could talk to him just one
more time.

I was feeling pretty sad that day. I was still having a real hard
time about losing my son. I had been crying and I was talking to
my sweet Christian sister about how much I was missing my
son. I was telling her Jeff had always known how much I loved
white butterflies.

I don't know what made me think of that, but we were saying
how rare they were to see where I lived at that time, up in the
mountains of California . I hardly ever saw 'white butterflies'
anymore. It had been a long time since I'd seen solid colored
'White butterflies'. Well, she and I talked about that for a few
minutes and then, all of a sudden, as I was looking out of the
windows, I saw the most beautiful sight - hundreds of white
butterflies flying into my front yard! They flew in all together, in
a big swarm - hundreds of them in one big group. I told my
sister what I was seeing and that I had to hang up the phone
and hurry outside.

I ran outside real quick. I just stood in my yard and watched all
these beautiful, solid white butterflies. I stood real still, real quiet,
and watched them dance around in the air. They stayed in a
group, together. The next thing I did, was to move a few steps
closer to them. I figured they'd just get scared and fly away with
me standing so close to them. But you know, they didn't!

They danced all around, up in the air, in a big huddle, right next
to me. I watched them for, what seemed to me, a good ten
minutes. Then, finally, they all flew away - all together, in a big
huddle - just the way they'd flown in.

I don't understand it and I know I will never understand how, at
the exact time my sister and I were talking about the rarity of
white butterflies and how much I missed my Jeff, a whole swarm
of white butterflies showed up in my front yard.

I do know, however, that one day, when I get to heaven, I will
understand it all.

I don't believe in asking God for signs. The bible tells me all I
need to know to have faith in Him. But that day is a day I have
never forgotten. I wish I could describe how all those white
butterflies looked, the way they danced in the air for me.

I know the Lord works in mysterious ways and I do believe it
was God's way of letting me know how happy my son is. One
day, I will understand it all.

© Tammy Boatman-Young
mailto:[email protected]

I love you, my son ' Jeffrey Boyd '
August 12, 1977 - June 13, 2001