What's In A Name?

I wanted to explain my blog title to those who may be wondering what the word Kallima means.  Several years ago, I went through a painful time in life when I lost relationships that were very significant to me.   During that time, I questioned God why I had to experience such loss.  I was determined to make sense of it all on my own and grasped on to anything that could bring me answers and relief!  I began seeing butterflies everywhere!  He sent enough for me to stop and notice.  I started thinking that this might be a sign from God that He was trying to speak to me.  I prayed one of those prayers I think most of us have said in our life....you know the one where you ask God to show you a sign?  Remember, I was desperate.  Afterwards, I continued seeing butterflies more often!  I was convinced that God was answering the plea in my prayer.  One of those occurrences was when I was browsing through the card aisle in Hallmark.  I stumbled across one with a butterfly on the front.  It read like this, "You've got to admire them-setting off on a journey of no less than a thousand miles on only a wing and a prayer.  Yet make it, they will... And so will you.
Right there is when something clicked for me.  God wasn't using the butterflies to give me hope in something I thought I wanted.  He was giving them to remind me that He could see my pain and he would give me strength to make it through.   He has stayed faithful to that promise!  The word Kallima has two meanings.  Kallima is the Greek word for beautiful and is also a type of butterfly.  When I stumbled across the word, my heart was so happy!   It all just made sense to me, then.  I think about the life cycle of a butterfly.  First, it is a caterpillar and becomes ready for a change.  It forms its chrysalis and liquifies in the beginning stages of metamorphosis.  After a time, it emerges from the chrysalis and is completely changed.    That is exactly how God works!  He sees us where we are and has a plan for us.  He has to work in our lives and create us to be who He dreamed us to be.  Every person goes through pain in life and we ask God questions, but it is through that time we are most vulnerable that He can mold us.  When we put our trust in the One True God, we come out on the other side more beautiful than before.  I still have that card and reading it today allows me to look back at that time in life and see that HE IS FAITHFUL!  My journey has only just begun!
                   

Isaiah 61:1-3

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, 

   because the LORD has anointed me 

   to proclaim good news to the poor. 

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 

   to proclaim freedom for the captives 

   and release from darkness for the prisoners,^[a] 

² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor 

   and the day of vengeance of our God, 

to comfort all who mourn, 

 ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion— 

to bestow on them a crown of beauty 

   instead of ashes, 

the oil of joy 

   instead of mourning, 

and a garment of praise 

   instead of a spirit of despair. 

They will be called oaks of righteousness, 

   a planting of the LORD 

   for the display of his splendor.