Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. So the man decided to help the dragonfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.

The dragonfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the dragonfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened! In fact, the dragonfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that this was God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the dragonfly in to its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. The restricting cocoon and the struggle required was necessary for the dragonfly to get through the tiny opening to be able to fly. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never "fly"!

• I asked for Strength ... and God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.
• I asked for Wisdom ... and God gave me Problems to solve.
• I asked for Prosperity ... and God gave me a Brain to work.
• I asked for Courage ... and God gave me Danger to overcome.
• I asked for Love ... and God gave me Troubled people to help.
• I asked for Favors ... and God gave me Opportunities.
• I received not exactly what I wanted ... I received exactly what I needed!

Another man found a cocoon of a dragonfly.
This man having read the above and aware of the difficulties, left it alone and watched it progress during the day. Almost forgot and just in time to see the dragonfly had managed to emerge.. He powered his CoolPix and sitting on his knees and reaching above the pond, as far as gravity allowed, closing-and focusing in at 10cm, took this photograph.
It was the only chance he got, the very next moment, this dragonfly actually proved it could fly.., leaving the man behind with his doubts:THERE ARE NO SECOND CHANCES....

• If it's overexposed, I've blown it.
• If it's underexposed, I've blown it.
• If it's out of focus, I've blown it.

This is quite a pastime I've chosen here...
John D., Driebergen

The saga continues...