.
“Fear knocks on my door too.
I no longer invite it in for tea.
I simply thank it for trying to protect me,
then keep walking through,
Because I’m still Becoming.”
- Debra Gabel -
Ladybugs have been symbols of hope and good fortune for centuries.
Across different cultures, they often represent:
- 🐞 Good luck – Perhaps the most common meaning. Seeing a ladybug is often thought to be a sign that good things are on the way.
- ❤️ Love – Because of their gentle nature and heart-like red wings, they’re associated with love, joy, and warm relationships.
- 🌱 New beginnings – Ladybugs transform from larvae into beautiful beetles, making them a symbol of growth and becoming.
- 🌸 Protection – Farmers treasured ladybugs because they protected crops by eating aphids, so they became symbols of guardianship and blessings.
- 🌞 Hope – Their bright red color is seen as a reminder that light can appear even after difficult times.
- 🦋 Patience – They move at their own pace, reminding us that growth doesn’t have to be rushed.
- 🙏 Divine guidance – In European folklore, ladybugs were called “Our Lady’s Beetles,” linking them with protection, grace, and answered prayers.
Note: The butterfly represents dramatic transformation, while the ladybug represents quiet, everyday hope.
Today would have been my dad’s, Art’s 100th birthday. He passed away in 2011, but not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. He was kind, loving, creative, energetic, and one of the most positive people I’ve ever known. He met life’s challenges with resilience, optimism, and a sense of adventure that inspired everyone around him. I loved my dad deeply—and I truly liked him as a person. He was someone you simply wanted to be around.
It’s fitting that today’s quote is about walking through. My dad lived that lesson. He taught me that life isn’t about avoiding hard times—it’s about continuing to move forward with courage, hope, and love.
Today I’m also thinking of my cousin Dorothy, who has been living with serious illness for many years. She is my favorite cousin and one of the kindest, sweetest, and most beautiful souls I know. This quote was written especially for her. As she faces each new challenge, I’ve been sending her the quotes and illustrations I’m creating as a small reminder that she is not walking this journey alone.
Some people teach us how to live. Others teach us how to face life’s hardest moments with grace. Today I’m grateful for both my dad and Dorothy—for the love they’ve given, the strength they’ve shown, and the reminder that no matter what life brings… we keep walking through. -Debra
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