Shortly after I returned home from a writer’s conference on Sunday, my youngest son, age 4-3/4, came in from outside with a little gift. It was a daffodil, only it hadn’t yet opened so it was all folded onto itself. I felt a little melancholy receiving it, knowing he’d be turning five by week’s end (today) and that this could well be the last spring I’d receive a gift of flowers from his small hands.
“Oh, thanks honey!” I said. “I guess we’ll need to get some water for this.”
A few minutes later, he came back into my bedroom where I was “recovering” from the drive. He was holding a glass filled to the brim with water, which was sloshing over the edges. He had a serious look in his eyes. He set the glass down on the nightstand next to me and we placed the flower in it.
The next day, he was telling me about all the other flowers like that one in the back yard. He was excited and asked if I would come see them later. I didn’t want to discourage him from picking flowers for me, but I did want him to know that the flower he’d brought in the day before likely would open up and die before the others.
“But why?” he asked.
“Because in order to grow well, a flower needs water but it also needs dirt to live in,” I answered.
A little while later, I could feel his presence nearby but I was too distracted to notice what he was doing, how he was hovering near the flower. When I looked at it a few minutes later, I could see something was different.
“Did you do something to the flower?” I asked.
“It has dirt in it. Now it won’t die so fast.”
This kid was melting my heart left and right. His gestures of love, for me and the flower, were not getting past me. He not only wanted to give me a gift, he wanted to give me something that would last, that wouldn’t die soon.
The flower has opened up beautifully. One of its petals is suffering at this writing, not for lack of soil and too much water but because of a curious cat that won’t leave it alone. Even so, every time I pass it, I hear it whispering something to me. “Love,” it says. “I am infused with love and now you are as well.”
When the two of us finally went outside to look at the daffodils in the dirt, he was so joyful he was practically dancing on the way to the spot where they were growing. My young son’s appreciation for spring flowers has been such a beautiful sign of what is possible. New life is so captivating, even to an almost-five-year-old.
Yesterday, he drew a picture for me at the drop-off childcare where I brought him while I attended a meeting. He pointed out the green flower he’d drawn and made sure I saw that it had dirt, just like the yellow flower in our home and those outside. He wanted to make sure his pretend flower had as long a life as possible, too.
And today, I can’t help but think of that dirt and that flower and how eloquently they point to our relationship with God. Dirt isn’t always, well, dirty. We need good dirt, good soil, laid down at our base in order to flower in the way God wants us to. Without good dirt, we, too, will die an early death, spiritually if not physically.
My son’s small but poignant gesture has given me so much. It’s reminded me of the power of love, the power of new life, and the power of nurturing a rich-soil relationship with the Creator.
What are some of the things you do to enrich the soil at your base? OR, when was the last time the simple act of a child touched your heart?
I’m curious about the red thing shooting blue flame at the flower? Great post on the sweetness and concrete thinking of a child. Surrounding my roots in good words, good deeds, and good people help keep me solid. Thanks!
Oh Mary, you have me giggling. Only the mother of four boys would have zeroed in on that! I’m not sure what it is. Some super-galactic shooting thing that attacks floral arrangements? The only other thing he explained when I asked about it was the blue “chicken” at the top. Love the spikey mohawk on that chicken. 🙂
Loved this! Reminded me of my 5-year-old nephew. He loves all living things, too. We were playing kickball in my parents’ back yard, and whenever the ball went flying towards the flowers, he’d yell after the ball, “WATCH OUT, DAAAFOOODIIILLLSSSS!” As if they could jump aside from the ball. It was so sweet! Children understand life and love and beauty better than adults. He reminds me not to forget that!
Thank you so much for the encouraging words on my blog! I’ve enjoyed writing ever since I first learned to read and being an author has always been my number one dream.
I love how you have Mama Mondays, Writing Wednesdays & Faith Fridays. I think that would be a great way to keep motivated and organized. 🙂
I love your blog and hope to keep in touch! Thanks again for commenting.
Tessa
Oh, you know how I love daffodils! I smiled the moment I saw that photo. By the end of your post, though, I had tears in my eyes.
Those small, innocent gestures from our little ones are some of the most precious gifts we’ll receive in this life. My middle child (mama’s boy to his toes) comes up to me several times a day, snuggles against me and says, “I need lovins”. At those moments, he wants me to drop whatever I’m doing and give him my full attention – + lots of hugs and mooches. I melt every time. He’s eight, and I dread the day he decides he’s too big for lovins. 🙂
Happy Friday, friend!
Laura, oh, that was such a great image! I could totally see my guy saying something like that. He lives life with such zest but still cares about the flower in his path, just like your nephew. Isn’t that just the best? Thanks for making me smile. And Tessa, yes, I love my “system” too. I started out writing sporadically. Over time my blog has evolved, and I have come to really appreciate the elements that are routine that help readers know sort of what to expect, but still not know everything. It does help me stay organized too. I’m not a hyper organized person so I need these little helps as well to keep ME on track. 🙂 Glad you stopped by again. Have a great weekend!
Shannon, that is so sweet: lovins. Yes, appreciate those snuggle times. They are so precious. It’s hard to believe that some people don’t get lovins at all. We are so fortunate to have this around us everyday. So blessed. Have a good one too!
Roxane,
I love these posts. The innocence of a child is something we all need to be reminded of on a regular basis. One of my favorite “love moments” with Murray is when he grabs my face with both hands and says, “HI MAMA!” complete with a smack on the lips. He does this out of the blue and in those moments, I can’t help but feel pride in the way we are raising him. When children show love towards others, there are only two entities repsonsible for this: God and parents. Thanks for sharing this beautiful anecdote of an awesome little boy and his deep love for his awesome mommy.
I am enriching my soil by digging into my art, my vision, my truth! Thanks for sharing your insights and how this reminds us of the great creator.
How stinkin’ cute is that.
I love how kids just logic things out.
My niece said out of the blue last week. “I love Grandma Nancy. I love Uncle Chad. And Uncle Chad loves Pop-Tarts.”
Now all of this is most certainly true. But the one and only time that anyone ever said anything about Pop-Tarts to her was my husband over two months ago.
Pretty sweet.