What does a butterfly have to do with sancity of life?

Welcome to Good Leaven Designs and our very first blog post. As our bio states, we are a mom and 2 daughters who love Jesus but know we fail Him daily.  We make jewelry with a message.  Some messages are more plainly seen such as those pieces made with saints’ medals and crucifixes.  Our Subtle Reminders Collection has more understated meanings.  These designs are inspired by Scripture but the message may not be obvious without knowing the book, verse, and / or chapter that goes along with it.  It is our hope that the person wearing it is reminded of God’s love and mercy each time she looks in the mirror and sees that particular piece. 

There is one design that I thought needed more of an explanation.  The Sanctity of Life necklace is a beautiful, dainty piece but what does a butterfly have to do with respecting life?  Well, to explain that I have to tell you 2 stories. 

Story #1

In September 1991, my little cousin Haley was born.  Almost immediately, doctors discovered heart abnormalities.  Within days of her birth, she underwent heart surgery.  This was not a complete fix.  The doctors told her parents she would need more surgeries as she got older.  Haley loved to dance, play softball, holidays, and eat her MawMaw’s seafood gumbo.  You would never know she had heart disease – she was a little spitfire.  In 1999, Haley was due for another surgery.  However, during pre – op, it was discovered Haley had cancer.  After a very courageous, year-long fight, the disease won the earthly battle.  In July 2000, Haley was healed, cancer – free, and in the arms of Jesus.  Seventeen years later, we all still miss her as much as ever.

Haley loved butterflies.  The butterfly is sort of a mascot for our family now (if that is such a thing.)  I knew at some point we would create a piece of jewelry with a butterfly to pay tribute to Haley but wasn’t sure exactly what that would be or how to tie it to Scripture.  I put it in the Holy Spirit’s hands.

Story #2

I also knew I wanted to do a pro-life design but didn’t want it to be the usual baby feet.  To me, pro – life is so much more than protecting the unborn.  If we truly respect life, we care for everyone in all stages of life.  Not only the numerical stage but also the stage of a particular person’s life.  In other words, we should care for:

the elderly

the physically sick

the mentally sick

the incarcerated

the poor

the uneducated

the hungry

the exploited

the spiritually weak

the awkward

the lonely

the homeless

the former abortion clinic worker

        and post abortive women and men

the human trafficking victims

the bullied

the oppressed

the marginalized

the veterans

the unemployed

the (insert anyone at all)

All people at all stages of life have an inherent dignity given to them by God at conception.  No one can ever take that away from another human being.  However, what we can do is jeopardize our own relationship with the Jesus by not respecting each person. 

As with the first story, I began to pray on this too.  After several weeks, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart.  “Combine the two”.  To be honest, it didn’t make much sense to me but I figured God knew a whole lot more than I did.  So, I began to research the life cycle of butterflies and it all made sense.  The scientific name of a butterfly is Rhopalocera.  Whether a butterfly is a larva, caterpillar, or butterfly, or pollinating, mating, or migrating, it is still a Rhopalocera.  Like the butterfly, we go through various stages of life, in various physical and mental conditions, we have various jobs, are given various titles, and are on a constant journey to our final home.

No matter if you are rich or poor, young or old, healthy or sick, or have too many or too few chromosomes, you are loved and ever so valuable to your Heavenly Father and to us.

Genesis 1:27

Jeremiah 1:5

Matthew 6:26

A portion of all profits from the Sanctity of Life necklace will go to various pro-life charities.