The Butterfly Dress
She was born with serious medical conditions. Rejected and abused, she was put in the system. When they got the call, the foster parents were told that she would be a hospice baby, with only weeks to live. Would they take her? They didn’t hesitate, these parents with open hearts; they said yes.
Melissa would be one of 11 children in a home filled with love. Three of her siblings were born of her parents; the other eight were adopted. She and her chosen siblings all had medical or emotional or developmental issues. All of them were encouraged and loved beyond measure. Soon, a family gathering meant 30 people around the table. Melissa grew and thrived and graduated from high school.
Dad said it had been a good week. Melissa got to eat her favorite meal at Red Lobster. They spent the evening watching TV and when bed time came, Melissa and Mom and Dad told each other they were loved. Some evenings were spent with slamming doors and huffy responses, typical daughter-parent things. But that night had been good. She spent time skyping with her boyfriend before turning off the light.
Sometime between the phone call and the dawn, Melissa, 28 years old, slipped quietly from this life to the next. No one expected it. The shock was immense and family members arrived at the house all day long, crying, remembering, disbelieving.
Mom made herself go into the bedroom to look for the pink dress, but to no avail. She could only find the butterfly dress. That was better, though. Melissa loved butterflies and the flowers that attracted them to the garden. The butterfly dress gave them pause to smile as they all said their final goodbyes.
This spring they’ll build a small patio and plant flowers to attract the butterflies. Mom can sit out there in the early morning light and reflect on the many ways Melissa brought joy to the family. She will cry, because a mother always cries for her child, but the peace and the butterflies will give her hope and remind her of the goodness of unconditional love. And Dad will be forever grateful that they were horrible hospice parents.