Flowers Are Food for the Soul

Today, Writing Straight from the Heart is joining Cindy's Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home.

 Check out her blog to see some of the other entries for Show and Tell Friday.




The most beautiful sound in the world is a doorbell ringing to announce the arrival of fresh flowers.

Last Saturday, while immersed in baking, cleaning, cooking, and decorating for Easter, the sweet ding dong came!  My adorable niece, who was bringing her new boyfriend to Easter dinner, sent them to me.

Now why did tears come into my eyes when I saw the enchanting flowers?  Guess I'm a sentimental marshmallow heart but receiving flowers always makes me cry.

The colors, shapes, and scents of flowers never cease to amaze me.

The Creator is a wonderful artist, isn't He?  How could He create such a magnificent array for His children on earth?

Swirls, soft petals, brilliant and pastel colors, and every possible shaped flower are part of a bouquet. It's all so breathtaking.

Whenever your spirit feels down, and you cannot bear another disappointment, go get some flowers. They truly are food for the soul!

WHY DO FLOWERS MAKE US HAPPY?

Anniversary Remembered with Flowers: A True Gift from the Heart

The doorbell rang and one of my sisters came in, carrying a colorful and cheerful  bouquet of flowers.

They commemorate the 36th July wedding anniversary of my husband and me.  It seems almost impossible that 36 years have gone by since we said vows to love and cherish each other. On the other hand, with all we've been through throughout the decades, it definitely seems possible we've been married that long.

Here's an admission. I really adore my husband. All the conflicts we've had and the things about him I dislike, pale compared to his wonderful qualities and immense talents. 

Our deep and abiding faith in Almighty God and shared spiritual core kept us strong through all the storms that threatened to tear us apart. Of that I am sure. He is the greatest gift I ever received in my entire life and it makes me feel so humbled and so blessed.

He had a health scare two years ago and thoughts of losing him came to mind. But, like the Bible says, he regained strength  and has come back to life like on the wings of an eagle. My heart is so filled with gratitude it could break. It was not yet  time for us to part.

On the cover of the anniversary card that accompanied the flowers, two people are flying kites.

    "You can have a Happy Anniversary or say 'go fly a kite,' " my sister joked and we had a good laugh.

She lost her husband just a few months ago to pancreatic cancer.  He was only 59 years old. July would have marked an anniversary for them, too.

Today she saw his tombstone for the first time.

As I look at the flowers, gifts from the hand of God,  tears fill my eyes. Life is so filled with sadness, at times, and deep disappointments that shake the soul.

The death of a spouse has got to be one of the most traumatic of all life's sorrows. My own heart breaks for my sister who misses her "forever love" every minute of her life. All the dreams of their growing old together are gone, vanished like the wind on a summer's day.

I watched her walk, alone, out of our front door and felt an ache deep inside my soul. 

When I tell my husband "Happy Anniversary,"  I will hold him close to my heart and hug him, thanking God for every moment we have left together.

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR LIFE'S GREATEST GIFTS?

For the Love of Flowers

Whenever feelings of sadness or fear rise in my heart, a quick anecdote is a bouquet of flowers

Recently, when I found out that a family member's cancer had come back, my first reaction was a mixture of dread, sadness, and worry. Quickly, I realized there was nothing I could do about a medical determination.  What is in my power is being a source of love and support to the person in the midst of pain and sorrow.

Ordering flowers from a flower shop can be an expensive proposition. A local supermarket, however, has a fabulous array of flowers at very affordable prices. In a conversation with the woman who works in that department, I explained that my loved one was very ill and that the flowers were for her. This family member had her own flower garden for years and grew a variety of lovely flowers. 

"Could you put together an arrangement of colorful spring flowers?," I asked her, fighting back tears. Within a few hours, the bouquet was done and ready to be picked up. A variety of flowers, all in beautiful colors, had been set in a vase and tied with a cheery pink ribbon. The florist had done an outstanding job with the bouquet and the price was about half what I would have paid in a standard floral shop.

The bouquet contained yellow carnations and lilies, pink and white roses, lavender mums, and a deep cranberry colored flower, among many others.  A pink ribbon adorned the glass vase.

My dear one loved the bouquet. Everyone who sees it exclaims how regal it is.

No one knows what the future holds for any of us, sick or well. We have just moments and those must be appreciated and savored. Each moment holds special gifts, like flowers, and enjoying their colors, fragrance, and variety is part of the magnificence of life. One last thought is that it's good to remind ourselves how fleeting, precious, and transitory this life on earth actually is.

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR YOURSELF WHEN YOU ARE FEELING SAD?