I love to watch the flight of a graceful butterfly.  Watch him as he floats upon an invisible ocean of air.  Look as he dips and dances to the music of an unseen orchestra.  His is a life filled with happy surprises; one night he falls asleep, an ugly caterpillar and the next thing he knows, his life is forever changed and filled with wings and roses.  Everywhere he appears children smile, laugh, and chases them around like they were the coolest and most expensive toy they have ever seen.

        As I beheld my velvet winged prince of the garden I began to ponder the silent power of his presence.  What makes him so universally loved and adored?  How can their mere presence cheer and brighten the day of all who watch their gentle flight?  His is the power to persuade all who stand in his peaceful presence.  Have you ever heard of the Butterfly Effect?  It refers to the idea that the flapping of a butterfly’s wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that ultimately cause a tornado to appear (or prevent a tornado from appearing).  Had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different.

        Yes, my new friend certainly can pack a punch!  One reason for such a powerful life is found in how and where he chooses to live it.  Where will you find him most of the time?  He usually hangs out in the most beautiful places known to man; a garden full of flowers.  How many times have I followed him only to be led a place of beauty and strength?  And how does he live his life?  By bringing love and laughter, smiles and comfort into the lives of all who will spend time in his presence.  His is a life lived to give.  He has found the key to a powerful life; giving and sharing what you have with those around you.

        What is his motto?  It is more blessed to give than to receive.  As we give, we live.  Yes, my friend, the capacity to care and to share gives life its deepest significance.  We might make a living by what we get; but we make a life by what we give and share with those near us every day.  I hear someone say, I wish I had something to give.  Listen, if you have love in your heart, you always have something to give.  Love is like the five loaves and two fishes. It doesn’t start to multiply until you give it away.  A life of silent power is a choice; choose to give and remember, he that does good to another does good to himself.

Something to think about:

• What I kept, I lost; what I spent, I had; what I gave, I have.

• And love in the heart wasn’t put there to stay; Love isn’t love ‘till you give it away.

• Love cures people—both the ones that give it and the ones who receive it.

• Kindness is something you can’t give away, since it always comes back.

• You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

• Giving is the secret of a healthy life. Not necessarily money, but whatever a man has of encouragement and sympathy and understanding.

• All we can hold in our cold dead hands is what we have given away.

• He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

• Charity is never lost. It may meet with ingratitude, or be of no service to those on whom it was bestowed, yet it ever does a work of beauty and grace upon the heart of the giver.

• Give what you have. To someone it may be better than you dare to think.

A generous action is its own reward.
Rickey Moore