Grocery Store Flowers

I used to love Highlights For Children magazine.
I remember that magazine used to come in the mail when I was a girl.
I loved doing the puzzles and activities.
My favorite thing to do was the Hidden Pictures.

When I knew how to read the words myself, I enjoyed finding every item.
The scenes were always different.
The items to be found varied with each issue.
The concept was the same.

Somewhere in the picture, various items were drawn into the scene.
Some were quite obvious.
Some were very difficult to find.
I never actually crossed off the items in the list once I found them.

However, I knew which ones I found and which ones I still had to find.
It was frustrating to find all of the items but one.
I was determined to find it.
However, the more I looked at the picture, the less I was able to see.

Walk away for a while, my mother would say.
Take a break and come back to it, she would suggest.
I remember being stubborn and not wanting to give up until every item was found.
I do recall one time I took her advice and walked away from the Hidden Picture puzzle.

I got involved in doing something else and never went back to the puzzle.
The next morning, I saw the magazine still open on the table.
I went over to it and glanced at the puzzle.
There it was; the item I could not find was plain to see.

I remembered my mother’s advice often in my life.
I even taught my children the same thing.
Sometimes you simply cannot see something that is very close to you.
Sometimes it is right under your nose but remains unseen.

I thought about the Hidden Picture puzzle as I was driving in the car.
It was not so much the puzzle I recalled, but my mother’s’ advice.
Walk away for a while.
Take a break and come back to it.

I realized that wisdom applies to life as well.

My husband has always been a flower sender.
Through the years, many beautiful bouquets have been delivered.
On Valentine’s Day, when the children were young, flowers and five balloons would arrive.
Flowers for me and one balloon for each child.

My husband always chose a balloon he thought they would like.
He always got it right.
I admit that I came to expect that delivery each year.
Instead of seeing it as something sweet, I began to see it as something routine.

I remember mentioning to my husband once that he did not have to get flowers from the florist.
Even a bunch of flowers from the grocery store would be lovely, I said to him and meant it.
After saying that, grocery store flowers, wild daisies, and sunflowers graced my kitchen island.
I was surprised in the beginning, but then I saw a pattern.

I knew when my husband was shopping near a grocery store he would return with flowers.
I said, thank you, and meant it.
It was the Hidden Pictures puzzle all over again.
I knew where the items were once I found them, and it was not the same.

I did not like my heart.
I did not like my expectations.
I did not like my internal grumbling.
I was not pleased with the way the familiarity of the gift breeds discontent.

Then I went out to breakfast with a friend.
She shared a simple story about her husband coming home with flowers.
They were just grocery store flowers, she said, but they meant the world to me.
I told him how much they meant to me, she added.

My stomach twisted.
I felt a punch of conviction.
Just like the Hidden Picture puzzle, I knew when the flowers would come.
The puzzle was familiar.

Walk away for a while.
Take a break and come back to it.
I thought of my mother’s advice.
I was out all that afternoon and returned hours later with all of my groceries.

I brought the first few bags in the kitchen and placed them on the island.
There in the center of the island was a bouquet of grocery store flowers.
I saw my husband’s face as he held them in his hands.
I felt the memory of his soft kiss upon my cheek.

I looked at those flowers as if for the first time.
Familiar? Yes.
Beautiful? Exquisite.
I noticed that, like the balloons he chose for each of our five children, he chose these flowers.

The bouquet was filled with the colors of fall.
The bouquet had a happy sunflower in the center.
All of my favorite colors were in the bouquet.
I was seeing the flowers for the first time.

Familiarity should breed contentment.
Things done that have been done before, should be seen as tender and sweet.
Just knowing that my husband is thinking of me as he is out running errands should be enough.
It is; it truly is.

I will walk in my house with a blameless heart. (Psalm 101:2)

Why is it that our homes and our families sometimes get the worst of us?
Why do we try to be blameless and faultless outside our homes but let our guard down inside?
Familiarity?
Routine?

Walk away for a while.
Take a break and come back to it.
Take a step back and see it with new eyes.
See the things that are done and done again as sweet gifts to cherish.

I have confessed this grumbling in my spirit to both the Lord and to my husband.
Neither deserve it.
My husband listened, as I looked at the gorgeous bouquet of grocery store flowers.
Give me a kiss, he said.

And I did.

2 responses to “Grocery Store Flowers”

1. Lovely. I often remember how sometimes I took for granted the things Don did for me, such as bringing flowers, saying “I love you” often, holding my hand when we walked or went anywhere, sending me beautiful cards. They just became part of who he was. But most of the time I DID really appreciate his kindness and love. Now I have lots of time to walk away and wish I could come back to our life together.

   Reply

   • Sue,
     It is so easy for all of us to take things for granted. God is continuously teaching me to stop and take notice. I often fail in busyness or distraction. However, there is such abundant blessing when I do.
     Gina

     Reply