By Judy Lee Jenkins
One year during the Christmas season, my son, Brandon and his wife, Natalia, sent me a beautiful bouquet of red carnations and white lilies. They added much to my Christmas decor in our home with all the other decorations that I so much enjoy putting out.
They came still in their bud form and then gradually day by day, they began to open up. I was very diligent in caring for them with water, keeping the stems cut, and also putting the preservatives in their vase that came with the box. I wanted them to last as long as they could because it was such a beautiful bouquet!!
When Christmas was over, I was happy to see that they were still vibrant and beautiful!! But the day came as it always does, and finally they wilted and were ready to be thrown out. I had a hard time doing it because I had enjoyed them so much and they were sent by those I loved so much!!
After I discarded them, I got to thinking about the parallel between flowers and people. I would like to share it in the following song I wrote:
MY CHRISTMAS BOUQUET
MY SON AND HIS WIFE SENT FLOWERS
FOR MY CHRISTMAS GIFT THIS YEAR,
A BEAUTIFUL BOUQUET TO BRING ME
JOY AND CHEER!!
CARNATIONS MIXES WITH LILIES,
SO PRETTY IN RED AND WHITE.
AND PINE BOUGHS HERE AND THERE
OF HOLIDAY DELIGHT!!
melody change
DELICATE LITTLE BUDS,
WAITING JUST TO BLOOM,
WITH A HEAVENLY SCENT
THAT BEGAN TO FILL THE ROOM.
I PUT THEM IN A VASE
AND NOURISHED EVERY DAY,
I WANTED THEM TO LAST
AND HAVE THEIR PRESENCE STAY!!
original melody
AS DAYS PASSED NOT ONCE
DID THEIR CARE I EVER IGNORE,
AND LOVE TO WATCH THEIR BEAUTY
UNFOLD MORE AND MORE AND MORE!!
THEN ONE DAY THEY WILTED,
THEIR TIME HAD COME AND GONE,
FOR BEAUTY TO FADE AND DIE,
JUST SEEMS TO BE SO WRONG!!
melody change
I PUT THEM IN THE GARBAGE
TO GO OUT WITH THE TRASH,
THEIR DAYS WITH ME NOW OVER,
GONE IN JUST A FLASH!!
THE SAME APPLIES TO US,
LIKE FLOWER BUDS WE COME,
WE BLOOM, THEN WILT AND DIE,
WHEN OUR LIVES ARE DONE.
original melody
BUT UNLIKE THE FLOWERS,
WE HAVE A SOUL THAT WILL LIVE ON,
TO TRAVEL TO THAT HEAVENLY REALM,
repeat
FOR WHICH OUR SPIRITS
FOREVER LONG!!!!!!!!!
Judy Lee, Such a beautiful analogy.
Butch