It was an early summer day. Avery was playing outside. It was fun to play at Ya Ya (Grandma) and Grandpa’s house. Avery liked climbing on the big rocks outside and playing pirate ship.

So Ya Ya was surprised when Avery suddenly came inside. She was holding something very gently in her hands. When Ya Ya looked more closely, she saw that it was a butterfly. It wasn’t moving, and one of its wings seemed to be broken or hurt. It didn’t seem to be able to fly.

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“Will you pray for the butterfly, Ya Ya?” Avery asked. 

They had prayed together before, when Avery wasn’t feeling well. And Avery had had lots of healings. She had learned that God is always here to help, no matter what. She knew God could help the butterfly, too.

Ya Ya said they would pray right away. They took the butterfly back outside and put it on a bush. Ya Ya explained that they could start their prayer by thanking God, just like Jesus did in the Bible. Avery and her grandma thanked God for His loving care for all His creatures. Then Ya Ya told Avery about a helpful idea from a book called Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. It says, “All of God’s creatures, moving in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible” (p. 514).

Ya Ya told Avery that indestructible means that none of God’s creatures, including the butterfly, can ever be hurt because they are spiritual. And something spiritual is always safe and complete. Ya Ya said that she and Avery could pray by holding on to what was true about the butterfly, no matter how things looked.

“God’s healing love is here,” she told Avery. “And loving is healing, and healing is loving.”

That gave Avery an idea. She began talking to the butterfly. “I love you, butterfly,” she said. “I love you, butterfly. And God loves you. God loves you!”

Then something wonderful happened! The butterfly flew to the next bush. Avery and Ya Ya kept praying, and soon the butterfly flew up into the air with no problem. It circled overhead and flew off.

“Ya Ya,” Avery exclaimed, “I think the butterfly came to me because I know God is Love!”