The Joy of Flowers

Flowers make me happy.

I love planting them, watering them, picking them and putting them in a pretty vase on my table.

There are so many kinds of flowers with a multitude of colors, foliage, petals, and scents.

They remind me of how creative God is.

Who doesn't love flowers?

Sometimes, I like roses in a formal arrangement.

Other times, daisies in a simple pitcher.

How about a vibrant bouquet that mixes different types of flowers?

There are bright reds, purples, oranges, and yellows.

Or pastels of pink, lavender, and blue.

And the scents: some subtle, some strong, some spicy.

Why do we bring flowers to those who are ill?

Because they can cheer you up.

They can help you think of happier things.

We use flowers to celebrate, as in a wedding.

Whether your wedding is formal, simple, or country - the flowers can set the stage.

Flowers can be used to remember someone, as in a memorial.

They can console and serve as a way to honor that person's life.

Working with the flowers in my yard is therapeutic for me.

It's a place that I can think while I plant, prune, water and fertilize.

It's a space where I can sort through things, pray for people, ponder deeper thoughts that are normally interrupted by phone calls, people, and life.

I love my yard, front and back.

We moved into this house when it was new, no landscaping at all. Plain dirt in both front and back. Over the years, we have planted many trees and flowers. Some that worked, some that didn't. Many lessons learned.

Now, I have a beautiful assortment of trees and flowers.

Some of my favorite flowers are those that grew from “starts” that people gave me.

I love that when I see my "Forget Me Nots,”

I think of my brother and sister-in-law. I begin to wonder how they are doing and then I pray for them.

I love my yellow rose that a friend wanted to get rid of. It is now flourishing in my rose bed.

I love my iris that was given to me by a friend who moved away 20 years ago. I think of her friendship and wonder what she's doing today.

I have an entire bed of alstroemeria that another friend gifted me - a beautiful combination of rust and orange. I then think, “I should give her a call.”

One of my favorites is a little daisy-like ground cover. Not because the flower is fancy, but by the way it came to be a part of my flower bed. I didn't plant them. The wind blew the seeds over and they grew. My neighbor has them in her yard. They make the perfect border for my roses. That was a gift from God. It makes me smile.

Recently, I decided my alstroemeria bed was overflowing. I wanted to share the joy they bring with others. I had an idea.

Around the corner from me, is a senior living home where my 96-year-old father lives. I go there each morning, and see all the sweet faces in the dining area, mostly women. So, I decided to arrange 16 vases of my flowers. I went in before they had breakfast and placed an arrangement on each table. I got permission to place them, but I didn't really want people to see me. I was hoping it would brighten their day.

Today I heard from the receptionist that there was a buzz of excitement during breakfast about who put the flowers on the tables. When I walked through the dining area, there were ladies asking me if I was the one who left the flowers. I simply smiled and confirmed it was me.

They thanked me, and then one lady expressed, “They are cheerful and we can use some cheering up around here."

Another sweet lady told me about how she had a small patch of alstroemeria she had planted at her home, but because of health issues, she had to sell her house and move here to assisted living. She never got to see them bloom. She said she loved seeing the alstroemeria on her table.

Well, the flowers did what they were meant to do and more.

Flowers are more than just pretty decor.

They had the ability to bring cheer, joy, and sweet memories.

I'm so thankful for flowers.

Praying for you and yours,

Kerry