Did you know dragonflies once were water bugs? They live their lives in the water until one day their DNA tells them it is time to go to the surface. As they emerge into a new world of air they begin to metamorph transforming into the ethereal dragonflies which represent eternal life, although their lives are short only a few weeks during that time they procreate and begin the cycle of life again. So these amazing creatures become something entirely different than what they were before like the transformation of the caterpillar into the butterfly. I love how God builds into nature, His creation, beautiful metaphors of rebirth and resurrection.

Well, my son, Whitner, who died in our family swimming pool as a water bug emerged from the water in a changed state as a dragonfly into eternal life, the invisible spiritual realm with God. So my son is my water bug who is now my dragonfly. I wear always around my neck a dragonfly next to my cross symbolizing that my son now lives with Jesus.

So my son died on Palm Sunday 2011, his service was on Maundy Thursday, the night of the Last Supper, so his celebration of life was during Holy Week. At my church, there was erected a huge cross to commemorate Easter which so beautifully depicted where my son's life had become centered as a new believer. That Easter weekend was somber for our family missing Whitner. I was up before my family, and I wandered into our glass enclosed sunroom, the closest room in our house to the swimming pool where Whitner had died. In the room on the inside of the closed door was a giant dragonfly as close to the pool as possible. As I knew the story of dragonflies, I immediately saw this message from the afterlife that my son lives on in eternal life since dragonflies represent eternal life. I took a photo and woke all my family to come see this ethereal creature. Earlier that week I had already received the Red Cardinal and other messages. I thanked God for His continual messages of love from the afterlife.

So a few months later as I wrote in my FaceBook post God's Afterlife Kisses: Cardinal stories, I was in Florida for family week visiting my eldest daughter who was in a rehab specializing in trauma. During lunch I went down my the river to take in the beauty. What I found were thousands of dragonflies, really swarming around me. There was one that kept orbiting and buzzing me to where I thought he was going to collide into me. This got my attention as unusual. It was the second time I boldly asked God a question about my son provoking an answer. The first was just after my son died when I asked God if Whitner was with Him. He mercifully and lovingly affirmed my question by sending me a male Red Cardinal bird. This second question I asked God was if Whitner, my son, could see me and know everything that was going on in my life. That was when not one, but two Red Cardinals came to me. One landed in a tree next to me, and the second landed on a post attached to the dock I was standing. Such an affirmation of Scripture, Hebrews 12:1, which tells us the great cloud of witnesses surround us, and they are cheering us on to victory. They are actively involved in our lives. I know and feel this love and protection so often. I often laugh about how I must be providing them lots of entertainment as they probably place bets on me as to if I will repeat the same thing again and again hoping to get a different response. Finally, I usually learn do make a different choice, but often after much repetition. Those in the recovery community know this is the definition of insanity repeating the same thing over and over thinking you will get a different result. Like when you finally cross the street after you keep falling in that same hole in the wrong side of the street. I know I am grateful I have a few fans in Heaven helping me along with guidance because I need all the help I can get.

It was New Year's Day 2012, and our family was in Key West. We had been there less than a year ago when the boys and their buddies were spearfishing which this love led to Whitner's death as he died in our swimming pool practicing breath-holding for a spearfishing trip. It was a very bittersweet trip. My first steps off the boat New Year's Day was on the way to breakfast. The only thing I was carrying with me was the book, "Proof of Heaven," by Dr. Eben Alexander. I glanced down onto the street, and I saw a giant dragonfly. It was dead, flat on the ground in the shape of a cross having been run over by a car. I impulsively reached down to retrieve this special gift welcoming me to the New Year, a new beginning from a difficult year of tragedy and loss. The only thing I could do to preserve it was to place it in the book I was carrying. How ironic and fitting, clearly making a point to me that there is a Heaven, Afterlife, and Eternal Life. Life goes on even after death. I certainly got the message and thanked God for His lovingkindness, generosity, and mercy for this New Year's Day affirmation, gift, and blessing.

Now every time I see a dragonfly, I think of my son, Whitner, and my gratitude for his life. I also remember that this life is a temporary training ground leading us to eternal life and where we decide to spend it. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal," 2 Corinthians 4:18. Choose carefully because God will grant us our choice. He will never force us to be with Him if we choose not to believe in Him. I thank God for His affirmations of eternal life and love. 🙏❤

*Thank you, Holly Elmore, for your photo of the beautiful dragonfly that you shared with me. These delicate creatures are so near and dear to my heart.