It's a World of Dandelions

While the doorbell chimed incessantly, I slowly got up from my chair to answer, assuming the nature of the call is one of a bored prankster. Door opens. A pint-sized 3 1/2 year old sporting cowboy boots and a bike helmet and grinning teeth stands holding a weed. "Here mom, this is for you, it's a dandelion" he exclaims in a voice as though he's just won first prize for child of the year. "Oh thank you sweetie," I exclaim, as he lays a wet kiss on me. Seeing how overjoyed I was he runs back for another.


No one else in the world would appreciate these 2 priceless gifts. Just me. I immediately turned to the thoughts of the Little Flower, who in her book, The Story of a Soul, speaks of the flowers. She says, ".... every flower created by Him is beautiful, that the brilliance of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not lessen the perfume of the violet or the sweet simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all the lowly flowers wished to be roses, nature would lose its spring tide beauty, and the fields would no longer be enamelled with lovely hues. And so it is in the world of souls, Our Lord's living garden. He has been pleased to create great Saints who may be compared to the lily and the rose, but He has also created lesser ones, who must be content to be daisies or simple violets flowering at His Feet, and whose mission it is to gladden His Divine Eyes when He deigns to look down on them. And the more gladly they do His Will the greater is their perfection."

After pondering St. Therese's words, I was then further humbled. Half hour later, once the dandelions began wilting, an inquisitive 6 year old enters the scene. "Did Augustine give these to you?" referring to the flowers(weeds). "Yes," I reply. "Are they sprayed?" she asks. "No," I answer. "Can I eat them?" she asks. "No," I chuckle. Guess she wanted her chlorophyll for the day!