Bring Flowers to the Living

Several months ago my mother reminded me of something my Great Grandmother said often. Grandma Lee as we called her had a large garden in her backyard and beautiful flowers there and around her property. She tended the garden with the care of a master and even in advancing age found joy in caring for the inhabitants of her plot.

Photo used with permission from Pixabay

Often there would be flowers in her home that were from the bounty of her labor and I am sure that at times those jewels in a vase found their way to our house. The flowers served her as a way to care for something and steward her small plot of land not to keep for herself but as a gift to others. I learned a few months ago just how far that stewardship reached.

Bring Flowers to the living.

Velma Brunk

This was more than a saying to Grandma Lee as it’s something she did regularly. As I reflect on time spent with her on summer days I remember that between high stake Yahtzee! games we took walks and several times we went to homes of her friends and we had small vases or bunches of flowers. The visits weren’t long but no doubt meaningful given the special gift of beauty and growth as well as the visit from a longtime friend.

Velma Brunk (Grandma Lee) with my Dad and I (probably 1974)

I’ve thought about this phrase often. Flowers aren’t a talent of mine but we each have passion we can share with others just because. A gift of time, a kind word of gratitude or maybe a thoughtful reflection on the inspiration another is to us.

Robert Herrick tells us to “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may”. We should seize today for the gift that today is. Thank you Grandma Lee for taking it a step further and teaching us to give those flowers to others present with us today.