When I was just a baby girl,
I found what I thought...
Was the most prettiest flower
In our whole yard.
Lovingly I plucked it.

Smiling to myself
As I clutched it...
In my grubby little hands.
Straight into the house I went.
Calling for my mother.

Waiting to give her
this thing of such beauty...

So rich and rare.
I found her in the kitchen
and presented my precious gift.

She was as delighted as I.
Happy with myself,
I went back out to play.
Later, when I came back

To admire it's beauty
One more time...
I found my flower
I had so lovingly picked...
Sadly, had withered away.

"What's wrong with my flower"
To my mother I asked?
It's stem is drooped over
And it's petals are limp.
Where did it's beauty go?
It looks so ugly now.

"The flower is dying"
My sweet mother replied.
I picked it up...
And held it in my hands.
With great tears of sorrow,
Welling up in my big green eyes
And spilling down my face.

In all my innocence I cried,
"Why does it have to die"
It was my first encounter
With death...
And also a broken heart.

In my innocence,
I had asked a question of
Infinite wisdom.
I still find the answer...
To be the hardest part of all.

"Because you picked it"
I picked it for it's beauty,
Out of dear abiding love.
But with a heart of love...
Unknowingly, I killed it.
My mother dried my tears,
And held me close.

Trying to explain,
It would have died eventually,
Still, I felt such shame.
I could not understand...
Why anything should ever have to die.
It is still such a mystery to me.

I must look at it
From this perspective,
My precious nephew,
Was that beautiful flower,
With such a fragrance rich and rare...
That Jesus himself picked him...
To take to his own dear father.

I long to go
To a place...
Where the roses
will never fade...
To be in a garden,
Where the flowers,
have no thorns.

And the colors
are of the brightest array,
With the essence of sweet perfume...
Christ the son of God,
Is always gathering
The most beautiful flowers
Picked from God's
Own garden,
Too add...
To the master's bouquet.

Learn more about this author, Charleine Fenn.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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