The teaser for a feature segment on a local TV station promised a story about a monarch butterfly, a meteorologist, and super glue. It worked–I was curious, and I watched the story.

I knew that this is the time of year monarchs are preparing for their migration south. They are enjoying the nectar of the last, ragged zinnias; braving prickly lavender thistles; and resting in the clouds of purple aster blossoms before they fly to Mexico.

Except the butterfly in the news. Her wings weren’t working, and she wasn’t going anywhere.

The meteorologist in this story is also a pilot and has repaired airplane wings, so he has a special set of skills. He carefully glued the butterfly’s wings back together–twice. He and his girlfriend had compassion for the monarch and showed mercy.

What if our wings are broken, and we can’t fly? What if life injures us so badly that we can’t do the things we were created to do? We need someone who knows how to rebuild our lives, someone who knows how to fly, someone with skill, someone with power . . . and lots of super glue.

We need a mighty Savior who is the great Healer.

When John the Baptist’s messengers came to Jesus and asked Him if He was The One (the Messiah), Jesus answered with the prophetic words of Isaiah.

Go back to John and tell him all you have seen and heard here today: how those who were blind can see. The lame are walking without a limp. The lepers are completely healed. The deaf can hear again. The dead come back to life. And the poor are hearing the Good News.   Luke 7:22   TLB

Jesus was The One. The one with the skill, the knowledge, and the power to heal us, body and soul.

In Jesus we find more than just the ability to help us–He wants to help us.

He is gracious and kind and extends mercy and grace to each of us. Even if physical healing isn’t His best plan for us in this world, he offers healing for our sin-damaged souls and compassion to comfort our broken hearts.

But I will restore you to health
    and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord,

Jeremiah 30:17   NIV

God, pick up the pieces.
Put me back together again.
    Jeremiah 17:14   MSG

 I bless the holy name of God with all my heart.  Yes, I will bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things he does for me.   Psalm 103:1,2   TLB

He forgives all my sins. He heals me. He ransoms me from hell. He surrounds me with loving-kindness and tender mercies.   Psalm 103:3,4   TLB

He is merciful and tender toward those who don’t deserve it; he is slow to get angry and full of kindness and love.  Psalm 103:8   TLB

Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.   2 Corinthians 4:17   MSG

So even if your wings are splinted and super-glued together, the Lord is healing you.

You will fly again.

That butterfly in the news story, perched on the woman”s shoulder–do you remember her name?

It’s “Grace.” Her name means “kindness, love, mercy.” The little monarch received mercy and grace, and so can we.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.   Hebrews 4:16   NIV

All photos (except zinnias) by Barb Briggs