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fter Mom's Memorial service in Big Bear California, I picked up the beautiful white rose bouquet surrounded with red flowers and greenery my Sister, Shirley, had picked out. Shirley and I had just talked about how we enjoyed flowers and wanted to have them around us. The flowers were set on a table covered with a white tablecloth along with Mom's picture, a candle, and a Bible. The vase of flowers adorned with a big red bow made the front of the sanctuary look nice. We were given a cabin to use for a week by my Brother and Sis in-laws. The cabin was perfect for us. The bouquet we set on the dining room table looked beautiful! Shirley and I enjoyed the flowers daily appreciating every petal and the message of comfort it represented! As the roses finally wilted away, I took them out leaving only the red lily-type flowers and greenery.
When Jimmy and Alice, (my Brother and Sis in-laws), came to visit and tidy up the cabin, Shirley and I were excited to pass the beautiful bouquet on to them along with our "thank you" gift. There had been so many flowers in the vase that even without the roses it still was pretty! Knowing that Alice was sensitive to fragrances, I was glad these red lily-type flowers had hardly any smell. But when Alice came into the room, the greenery (including a little of pine and eucalyptus) was too much. Appreciating the gesture but not able to accept the gift, Alice suggested we give them to someone on our way to the airport.
Thinking we might be able to see my friend Sandy, who lives near the airport, I dumped out most of the water (for travel) and anchored the large bouquet between my feet on the floorboard. Off we went with our suitcases and flowers ready to re-bless! When I checked with Sandy, I found that she was out of town and not able to connect with us. "What will we do with the flowers?" my sister asked me. "The Lord will show us who to give them to" I replied, knowing someone needed the message the flowers spoke.
Coming down the mountain from Big Bear and headed to Ontario, California, we stopped at a Starbucks. I carried in the flowers to re-fill with water and to re-bless someone. I set them on one of the empty tables as we ordered our coffee. A gal named Luz, who looked like she was in her early 20's waited on us. She was confident yet kind, sporting tattoos, gages in her ears, and a nose ring. As we were leaving Luz came out from behind the counter and started walking towards us. I stopped and said, "Honey, these flowers are for you!" Her face lit up and with a loud "Thank you!" she received my hug and the flowers!
Look at the blessings these flowers gave! They blessed a congregation when we honored our precious Mama. Then they blessed Shirley and me for a week with their beauty. The thought to express love blessed Alice but they were released to possibly bless Sandy. Sandy not being home they blessed a young girl named Luz who needed to be reminded that she was special and had value.
"Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come..." (Song of Songs 2:12) I feel flowers represent acts of kindness. Let them appear, often! It will release a song! In the movie, Braveheart, one of the characters, William Wallace, was but a child when he stood by the gravesides of his father and brother when he was given a flower by a young girl. Not a word was spoken but the message was one of hope and comfort. That song carried him into manhood with courage.
As we made our way to the airport, we gave lunch to a couple of workers and brightened their day. During the long delays while waiting for our plane to be fixed, we calmed down a frightened Asian woman and helped her understand her ticket; encouraged a Jamaican man who was going to be late for his job interview due to missing his connecting flight; prayed for a Vietnamese man who just had open-heart surgery, and many others while watching Jesus touch them all! We made the Pilot laugh, appreciated the air attendants, spoke "shalom" when a fight wanted to break out...we just let God flow through us however He wanted! God put people in our path as we gave "flowers" everywhere we went, literally and figuratively!
Let your "flowers appear on the earth" wherever you are! And, if you have something in your hand to bless with, bless!
In Job 29, when he blessed, he made the widow's heart sing! The Lord put a song in our hearts even during our tears. Healing came even more powerfully as we blessed others and re-gifted our buds of kindness over and over again!
Dr. CarolMarie Smith
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"I invite you to visit my personal Facebook page (CarolMarie Smith), where I post videos and insights open to the public that will help you continue to grow! We also film and post the Tuesday meetings on Facebook that compliment what I share in our weekly Cup of Empowerment."
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