Dearest and Beloved,

Many Christmases ago, I was given 2 metal butterflies of vivid fiery colour.  With excitement, the person who gave them to me explained that the colour was not painted on.  Rather, the deep shades were brought from the colourless metal by applying heat to them.  The longer it endured the flame, the brighter the colours within were revealed.

It reminded me of the refining fires we endure in life.  If we let them, they will turn us into pure gold, and reveal the true colour of our soul within.