One advantage to living out in the country: chasing bugs. When I was a girl, I was fascinated by anything that flew. That’s why I spent most of my childhood running across my papaw’s fields in pursuit of butterflies or lightning bugs.

I was mesmerized by the majestic beauty of the butterflies’ wings and I loved the challenge of chasing them as they fluttered in the air. If one had lit on something, I would tiptoe up to it. By the way, butterflies can hear. Next, I cupped hands out and around it. Then I quickly brought them together. What a thrill to peek between my fingers and see the butterfly. I also loved to watch it fly away after I released it.

Lightning bugs had their own magic. It was so awesome to watch specs of glowing lights floating around in the air. It was as if they were calling to me and daring me to catch them. But they were easier to catch than the butterflies. Lightning bugs were so much more laid back. Sometimes if you caught one, they would walk around your hand. That was cool too.

I remember one time, some of our cousins rode with us to the funeral home. While the adults stood inside and talked, we kids chased and caught lightning bugs outside. We had the brilliant idea to catch as many as we could and put them inside my papaw’s station wagon. When we all piled inside, those little guys were lighting up everywhere. Let’s just say the adults were not happy. How sad that some adults have lost the appreciation for the magic of bugs.

To be honest, I think chasing bugs is so relaxing and just plain old fun. And that is a form of therapy. Who knows, that may be one of the reasons God created them.

“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31.