Flowers of Love
“Nancy, wait….” before Elizabeth could speak further, Nancy had plucked the flower.
“What happened, mom?” asked Nancy, startled by her mom’s words.
‘What’s done cannot be undone,’ thought Elizabeth. “Nothing, darling. Will you do me a favour?”
“Yeah, sure,” replied Nancy. “What is it?”
“Hold onto that flower till you get back home, will you?”
“Sure, but why do you want it?”
“I’ll let you know when you get back.”
After a long day at school, Nancy returned in the evening.
“How was your day, love?” asked Elizabeth.
“It was good,” said Nancy. “I’m hungry, mom.”
“I’ll get your milk and cookies.”
After she ate, Nancy remembered about the flower. She removed the wilted flower from her bag. “Here’s the flower, mom,” she said sadly.
“Why are you sad?” asked Elizabeth.
“It looked so pretty in the morning but look at it now!”
“Don’t be sad, I have something for you,” said Elizabeth and went out. Soon, she returned with a potted plant in hand.
Nancy was ecstatic on seeing the plant. “Wow! It’s the same flower as this one.”
“Yes,” replied Elizabeth. “I bought this immediately after you left for school.”
“Thank you, mom!”
“You see the difference between the two flowers, Nancy? Pluck a flower and it stays with you a few hours. Nurture a plant and it gives you flowers throughout its life,” said Elizabeth.
“I shouldn’t have plucked this flower,” sighed Nancy. “I loved it so much, I couldn’t resist.”
“Love is not in plucking the flower, love is nurturing the plant,” explained Elizabeth.
“Flowers are Mother Nature’s way of expressing her love and in doing so she teaches us a thing or two about love,” said Elizabeth.
“What is that?” asked Nancy.
“Like the plant needs nurturing, so do people and relationships. When the conditions are apt, the flower of love will blossom in our lives,” explained Elizabeth.
“What are those conditions, mom?” asked Nancy.
“Kindness, care, empathy, understanding, and anything that makes us feel warm and comfortable.”
Nancy took the plant from Elizabeth’s hand. “Thank you for this plant, mom. I will nurture it so that Mother Nature can express her love through it.”
“That’s like my girl,” said Elizabeth. “And when you see a beautiful flower on the roadside?”
“I will admire the beautiful flower, but will never pluck one again.”
Elizabeth was happy. “That’s good. You can take the plant and keep it by the window in your room.”
“Sure, mom,” said Nancy and went to her room.
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