I found out that most Asians don't like flowers. I didn't before. Well, the most common reason is that real flowers die and then you throw them away. It's impractical and short-lived. It's a waste of money. They would rather put the money to good use. These were all valid reasons, and I used to think that way, but I changed my mind about them. I decided that I love flowers!
Just imagine someone saying "Thank you." or "I love you." with just words. Then imagine someone saying the same thing and handed you some flowers. Which one has stronger impact on you? Definitely the latter. Why? Because it adds to your words a sense of beauty and sincerity. Supposed you went through a huge loss, and your days are dark and gloomy. A friend said, "I'm so sorry." Then another friend said "I'm so sorry" and gave you a beautiful bouquet of vibrant flowers. You put the flowers on the table at home. For the next two weeks the vibrant colors and fragrance filled your room accompanying you in your sadness and silently encouraging you that there is still beauty and hope despite your loss. Flowers do something that words cannot accomplish, especially in sadness. I have experienced it before.
I have bought fake flowers because of budget or maybe you just wanted a nice picture or perhaps it's a seasonal decoration. But they are just a poor substitute for the real thing. They don't look, feel or smell the same. Everything screams out artificial and fake. Sure they last longer, but so what? Is it better to have something you love for a short while, or something you hate for a long time? If you are a young man who is courting a woman, would you think of buying her some fake flowers? No. fake flower speaks of fake love. Don't do it. Get those big fat long stem roses for her if you really care about her.
I have a dear friend who came to visit me for a month and then before she left, she bought me a huge bouquet of flowers as a thank you gift. It was exactly what I needed. It was as if she stayed a bit longer to remind me of the good times that we had and the beauty of our friendship. I especially love it when the flowers smell good in full bloom. My mom used to love flowers that smelled good. I understand it now. It's like a shot of happiness every time you pass by, and you take a deep breath because there is no perfume quite like it and you know it's fleeting, so you inhale it in as much as possible and enjoy that moment.
This Thanksgiving, I received a bouquet of flowers surprisingly from a sponsee friend. She doesn't like flowers herself, but she knew that I get a bit homesick during Thanksgiving and she wanted to express her gratitude to me so I received a beautiful bouquet on Thanksgiving day from her. I tell you, it lifted my spirit like no other. Each morning I take in those smiling flowers and their beauty, and recently the lilies bloomed and filled the living room with fragrance. How wonderful they smell right now! They reminded me that Thanksgiving can be wonderful here too.
What about the fact that flowers die? I get it, their beauty is short lived, but that's exactly why I love them. Things that you don't have forever, things that God puts in your life for a season, don't we cherish those more than the ones that are always there? The fact that I know that the beautiful flowers will not last makes me all the more cherish each day with it. I talk to it, spend time around it, and smell it. I want to be near my flowers as much as possible because in a couple weeks, it will not be there. Once my mom had a rare flower that bloom only at midnight and then it dies. (I forget the name of it.) In my young mind, I thought who in the world would want to plant a flower like that!!! You care for it and water it, and once a year, it blooms when no one is watching and then dies. Mom never stayed up at night because she had been an early bird all her life, but she set her alarm clock and woke up at midnight to admire the beauty of that flower and took a picture to remember the moment. Even for that one hour, she was happy. I did plant this other plant she loved called night jasmine to remember her after her passing. Around her birthday 9/1, it blooms at night after dark each year. I remembered going outside at night (rarely happened) and opening my windows when I slept so I could smell the fragrance as much as possible.
I also think that flowers are an expression of extravagant love. It's NOT something you need or that you can use. It's a luxury item. It's much like when in the Bible, that woman poured the expensive perfume on Jesus' feet and wiped it with her hair. It's not necessary and it's not practical. But it is an expression of extravagant love and Jesus accepted it as a beautiful act of love. Flowers say "I love you. " Every time you pass by those flowers on your table, you are reminded that someone loves you, and that love is public and is extravagant. If you receive it in the office, the whole office knows someone loves you and you are special to at least one other person. If you receive it at home, your family see it and can be a witness to that love and enjoy and celebrate it with you. How beautiful that is! There is no better feeling than feeling loved.
Lastly, there is no need to worry about where to store it. Some gifts you receive you don't really like, but out of the goodness of the heart and to remember the generosity of the giver, you keep those and you find a spot for it in your home. Year after year, you accumulate more of those types of stuff and they take up room. Pretty soon your living space is reduced because of the unwanted clutter. But you feel bad about throwing it away or even giving it to someone else. Guilty as charged. When I moved, I found so much of those sentimental stuff that I couldn't take with me, some are perfectly new. Well, you won't have to worry about that with flowers. When you receive them, you make room for them. When the flowers give all that they could, and at last they die, you throw them away. No one will say why did you throw them away when they are dead. You just thank it for what it did and you let life run its course. It's nice not to worry about where to store it. Sometimes there are those items that you no longer like, maybe an old piece of furniture or an item you used to like. They are still there because they are not broken and still usable. But they no longer bring you joy, then you still feel an obligation to keep those. Flowers aren't like that. For two weeks, they minister to your heart and add to your happiness and smile at you day and night. Then there is no question that the time has come that you have to say goodbye and make room for something else. Flowers represent much of Life. Maybe I like flowers especially after Mom's passing. Her life was short but so beautiful and I remember and appreciate the beauty as it lasted, much like the flowers that she loved. This holiday season, notice and remember to cherish the passing moments that may be fleeting and enjoy and appreciate the beauty of those.
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