Smell the Flowers

“Don’t count every hour in the day. Instead, make every hour in the day count.” ~Anonymous

Last week I stuffed 100 Easter eggs in preparation for “the big hunt.” I was grumbling under my breath because I was frustrated. I felt like there were many other “more important” things I needed to be doing. I was frustrated because time always seems so limited, no matter what I’m doing. I was sure I didn’t have time to be stuffing eggs with ridiculously overpriced candy that would end up being an unnecessary temptation in my kitchen. “Who needs all this candy?” I asked myself. “My child doesn’t need it and neither do my hips!” And then it hit me. One day my little girl will be too big for frilly baskets and egg hunts. Even Santa Claus and Halloween costumes will eventually lose their magic. She’s growing up too fast, I thought. That realization sent a pain inside my heart.

The next day, our family took a trip to Lowes. Our mission: buy a few flowers to fill the empty pots on the front porch and buy some vegetable plants to prepare for our garden. As I strapped my daughter into her car seat, she asked me to ride in the back with her. This is something she asks from time to time and when she does, my husband usually doesn’t mind riding with her. I grumbled at her request because I do not like riding in the back; but I realized she just wanted to be near me, so I climbed in next to her. Only by riding in the back could I experience the ride through her eyes: the eyes of a child. Yes, I had been grateful for the warm sunshine that day, but it was my daughter who had reminded me to appreciate it; to experience its beauty.

Everything was new and beautiful to her. Spring is finally here, and her eyes were filled with excitement as she pointed out scenes from the landscape. There were blooms on the trees, cows in green pastures, and wispy clouds against the background of a bright blue sky. I looked at her and saw that she had removed her shoes. She had propped one bare foot in the window and her soft brown hair was blowing in the wind. For a moment I was envious of my daughter. I wanted her carefree and joyous attitude. I wanted to be free from responsibility and worry.

Sometimes we’re so busy with the adult world of responsibility that we neglect to appreciate the everyday beauty that surrounds us. Worrying about responsibility does no good and it keeps us from enjoying even the simple things we encounter. When do we lose the ability to see things as our children do? At what point in our lives do we lose that sense of wonderment and excitement about the world and nature around us? Children are far smarter than we give them credit for. Often, it’s adults who are blind and oblivious to the natural wonders right in front of us! We see without looking, hear without listening, and we fail to feel because we don’t stop to embrace.

Time keeps passing, and I’ve always heard that the older we get, the faster it goes. But time doesn’t speed up – we just lose our childlike sense of wonder because we replace it with schedules, deadlines, and activities we think are important but could probably do without. Some of these things are important and inevitable, but every once in while it doesn’t hurt to ride in the back seat…just to enjoy the ride. My Nannie always reminded me to “Take time to smell the flowers.” That day it was my daughter who reminded me to pick a few too; so I did.



This is one of the flowers that we picked out that day. It was so unique that we just had to take a picture of it. Seeing this flower reminded me of the following poem...one of my favorites.

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

By: Robert Frost

Forgiveness

“Forgiveness is the economy of the heart…forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.” ~Hannah Moore

I’ve been thinking a lot about forgiveness lately. It’s something that isn’t always easy. I’ve noticed that people of all ages and backgrounds seem to cling to hurt and wrongdoings in some form or fashion. I’ve also noticed that the impact is greater and has the potential to be the most negative when we are hurt by those who are closest to us. And, those we love the most are often the hardest to forgive.

Sometimes the things we need to forgive are greater than one simple thought, action, or deed. Sometimes it’s a series of actions or inactions that hold us back, weigh us down, and ultimately prevent us from leading the quality of life that God would have us lead. When we allow the weeds of animosity and anger to fester in our hearts, it grows fast, and before we realize, it can affect every aspect of our lives.

Isaiah 49:16 says, “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” This verse reminds me that God loved me and sent His Son to die on the cross so that I could have the security of eternal salvation and be forgiven of my sins. I interpret the “walls” in this verse to mean any obstacle in life. God has forgiven me, but if I fail to forgive others, those walls can easily become obstacles between me and God. I didn’t make this up, Matthew 6:14-15 says so. If I expect my Heavenly Father to forgive me, then I must forgive others. I need God’s forgiveness on a daily basis, so I had better be about the business of forgiveness.

How often do we ask for God’s forgiveness, yet continue to cling to those little disturbances imposed by others in our daily lives? How often do we ourselves need to be forgiven, but harbor feelings of resentment towards others?

This Easter, I will remember that it was for my sins that Christ was crucified. I will celebrate my Savior’s resurrection and remember the ultimate example of love and forgiveness from my Heavenly Father. I pray that I will be able to forgive others and receive forgiveness when needed. I hope that anyone reading this will do the same. Forgiveness is, after all, an act of love. We cannot have one without the other, and it takes both to survive.