The Most Beautiful Flower

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read,
Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,
For the world was intent on dragging me down.

And if that weren’t enough to ruin my day,
A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.
He stood right before me with his head tilted down,
And said with great excitement, “Look what I found!”

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,
With it’s petals all warn down-not enough rain, or to little light.
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play,
I faked a smile and then shifted away.

But instead of retreating he sat next to my side,
And placed the flower to his nose and declared
with overacted surprise,
“It smells pretty and it’s beautiful too.
That’s why I picked it; here it’s for you!”

The weed before me was dying or dead.
Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red.
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.
So I reached for the flower and replied, “Just what I need.”

But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,
He held it mid-air without reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the very first time,
That the weed-toting boy could not see, he was blind.

I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun,
As I thanked him for picking the very best one.
“You’re welcome” he smiled and then ran off to play,
Unaware of the impact he’s had on my day.

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see,
A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.
How did he know about my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight.

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see,
The problem was not with the world; the problem was me.
And for all of those times I myself had been blind,
I vowed to see the beauty in life, & appreciate
Every second that’s mine.

And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose.
And I smiled as I watched that young boy,
Another weed in his hand,
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

~By Cheryl Costello- Forshey~



I know that 2008 has been a very difficult year for many of us. Many times when problems come our way, it is so easy to lose focus. We get wrapped up in the situation that is plaguing us and we can’t seem to see anything else around us. Before you know it, we have lost sight of what is really important and that is doing God’s work, winning souls, and pressing towards the mark, which is Heaven. We must remind ourselves that it is the devil’s business to turn our minds away from the things of God and what better way of doing this than through affliction? We, as the children of God need to learn that when problems come our way, we don’t focus on the problems, but we focus on the problem solver, which is JESUS.

As we leave 2008 behind and move forward into 2009 I would like to leave you with something I read…

When affliction refuses to let up, perseverance refuses to give up.
When perseverance refuses to give up, character continues to build up.
When character continues to build up, hope begins to rise up.
When hope begins to rise up, disappointment can no longer speak up.
When disappointment can no longer speak up, vision begins to grow up.

Remember, Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm 30:5

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!


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