Dandelions and Darlings...

This blog is not only for our daily activities, but also to view each child as a gift...and some pictures capture that quality so well, that I have no choice but to pause and take a moment to appreciate it.

Originally, I snapped this quick picture as my little girl sweetly picked yet another handful of her favorite "flowers."  I say that loosely as we all, as adults, know these are weeds, lawn pests that we diligently seek to exterminate and scowl at our neighbor's yards for possessing.  Well, like most pre-school aged children, she LOVES these bright yellow, easy to pick, readily available supply of Dandelions.  She usually can't remember the name so she lovingly squeals "Lion FLOWERS!!!" And, no matter where we are or what we are doing, we are subject to wait for her as she delicately picks to her fill, each...one...she...can...find...  As you can imagine, this can be quite a wait. 

It is so precious, she will only love these for so long until her tastes for "real" flowers develop and she is "educated" to the fact that most consider these "good for nothing" weeds. 

But not today...

Today we will pick the "flowers" and appreciate them through her eyes.  Today we will give them a place of high esteem in a small vase with fresh water among the other flowers we have on our windowsill.  Today we will revel in her innocence and recognize that this stage passes far too quickly.  In her right hand, she holds her brightly bloomed "lion flowers" and in her left she named these her "ball flowers."  I had to ask her several times until I fully understood what she was saying (she is still a card carrying member of TotTown and hard to understand at times..)  She said, "Look!  These are just wike a ball!" "Day are wound, just wike a ball!"  OHHHHHH!!!!!  Ball flowers!  Of course!!!  Yes, I knew that!?!  So, in the vase also sit the "ball flowers."  Anytime a well meaning older child has attempted to explain to her that "Those are just weeds, honey."  I quickly point out to her how yellow and fluffy and pretty her flowers are and she happily continues picking her prize. 

At times we are all childlike, aren't we??  We hold onto something that others see as silly, insignificant or trivial.  And isn't it better, in those times, to uphold the person and their values rather than to tear down what they hold so dear?  What seems like a weed to be destroyed to one may be the only bright yellow fluffy flower that someone has left to hold. 

And you know what?  God sees beauty, just like my little girl...beauty in the bloom at each stage, each phase, each age; it still has beauty and purpose. 

Luke 12:27 (NIV)
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell
you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these...

I wish you well...

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