The Dragonfly Story

3 years ago today, my 36 year old son Bobby died. For those of you who know me and our family, you know that Bobby took his own life, leaving his wife of 11 years and 2 beautiful little boys who were only 5 & 7 at the time...Since Bobby's death, Dragonflies have become a symbol of Bobby's wonderful spirit.  Little did I realize that they began appearing the next morning - but since that time, those closest to Bobby - his family and friends alike will tell you that they always seem to be with us - whether we are at the beach, ballgames, on the ocean, at Disney, Grand Canyon, or at celebrations for christenings, birthdays, first communions, you name it and there is always a dragonfly..

Shortly after Bobby's death, when Bobby's wife and friends pointed the dragonflies out to me and their conviction that it was his way of saying he was OK, I searched online for the story of this symbolism.  After finding The Dragonfly Story, I bought a few copies of the book so that I could read it to his litle boys, Dylan & Justin.... This story always brings me a sense of peace and joy - Bobby loved the ocean - any water for that matter since he was very little, so it's no surprise to any of us that a dragonfly would become a symbol of Bobby and his life and the peace that I'm sure he has found with his sisters and beloved Nana Mae in heaven...Cherie Houston

The Dragonfly

~Author Unknown~

Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond with few disturbances and interruptions.

Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their friend was dead, gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what he had found at the top.

When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.

So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw the beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never known existed.  Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended.

But, his new body would not go down into the water. He could not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he understood that their time would come, when they, too, would know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life!