Article December 25, 1915 Issue

Flower Giving

CORNELIA BATEMAN FARADAY

From the seemingly little things that come to us in our daily experiences we often learn large and useful lessons. As Mrs. Eddy has said (Science and Health, p. 234), "Whatever inspires with wisdom, Truth, or Love—be it song, sermon, or Science—blesses the human family with crumbs of comfort from Christ's table, feeding the hungry and giving living waters to the thirsty."

Recently the writer was given a great bunch of roses by some friends whom she had been visiting. She was delighted with them and appreciated greatly the love which had prompted the gift, as well as the exquisite color and fragrance of the flowers, and she thought of the joy of having them in her room, of the pleasure of looking at them and inhaling their sweetness. On her way home in the car she sat directly opposite another young woman who was alone. This other woman had no roses, and her face and whole attitude seemed to say she had no friends, no joy,—nothing that was beautiful. Then the thought came quickly to give her some of the roses. Mortal mind said, however: "No, you had better not. She may resent your doing so and tell you she does not want your flowers; and then too these were given to you to enjoy and they will be so beautiful in your room." But in a moment the right thought came, and the realization that if the flowers were given with enough love they must carry their message with them and could not possibly be refused or resented. Quickly she separated some from the bunch and without a word laid them in the other woman's hand. The look and the smile which she received in return were enough. She knew that the roses had given their message.

There came a great desire to go through the world giving blessings to every one, and she seemed to see everywhere people who had been forlorn, and neglected, and poor, and heart-hungry, all with happy faces, carrying bright, fragrant flowers. In place of grayness there was the color of joy; instead of sorrow and despair there were the blossoms of faith and hope. Selfishness and hatred had given place to Love's reflection, until the whole universe seemed a wonderful blooming garden, and these words from the thirty-fifth chapter of Isaiah came into mind: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing."

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