Compared to a rock, a caterpillar is teeming with life. It can crawl, munch leaves, and watch the view from a shady apple tree branch. It has more legs than all the tables in my house combined and I have never heard one complain. 

But its capacity for joy is limited. Although it would be hard to explain it to a caterpillar, there are things even more pleasant than eating foliage and hiding from birds. 

Butterflies take insecthood to a whole new level. Their beauty is stiff competition for a designer garment at any price. Considering how little they notice us it is amazing how hard it is not to notice them.

But back to the caterpillar.

What if someone declared that caterpillars were not worthy of life, and we should make more room for monarchs by exterminating their predecessors? That would be silly. There would soon be no more monarchs. Caterpillars are the only way I know of to get butterflies.

You may feel as if your spouse has not left the ground. You are waiting to be married to someone who is as light and lovely as a flower and dines on nectar. But give it time. Let him or her keep munching and crawling. One day when you least expect it you may wake up and see your honey flying away. 
Just make sure your wings are ready too.