February 8, 2025
Flowers and all-things-plant-like are part of our family “tree” (I think of that great PBS show “Finding Our Roots”.) We were fortunate to grow up where there is land as well as water. And in a time and place that honored and encouraged nature and growth. An innocent time.
I was never interested in anything green, much less tending such things. That job belonged to my mother, or my father or my grandmother. Now that they are all gone/deceased…or “promoted to heaven” as some church folks would say) and I am much older, I find that flowers bring me memories of both of my parents and my grandmother and grandfather. Happy memories. Living things…flowers. Plants. Trees. Being with these gifts of nature always brings me joy. I find that I have a different perspective on life when among such life-energy.
Several years ago I joined a Flower Ministry of my church. Such an old-fashioned thing to do, learning about flowers and how to create arrangements for the beauty of worship. I learned from my older mentors…my church “aunts” who knew best practices. Long before those words fell into the mainstream of language. But I had to sacrifice time and be willing to be a rookie for years…Not being the best allows for a lot of room for learning!
Today it was my turn to arrange flowers for a memorial. Not in honor of, but in-memory-of , to remember those who loved the Lord in this particular place and time. It was a real labor of love and it took hours. I was tired, but happy. Color and life and beauty for the Glory of God.
Remembering those who we loved and loved us. A day of Love and quiet joy. It was a wonderful way to begin to think about the Valentines of our lives.
Janine C. Hagan,Spiritual Systems, Inc. 2025.