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Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

0 posted 1999-11-01 11:54 AM

I wanted to share this all with you. Have a wonderful Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Sunshine.

The Most Beautiful Flower
by Cheryl L. Costello-Forshey
From: A 5th Portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, © 1998

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 its petals all worn -
too little rain, too little light.

Wanting him to take his dead flower
and go off to play,
I faked a small 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 surprise,

"It sure 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 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'd 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 of
my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart,
....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,
and 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 smiled as I watched that young boy,
another weed in his hand
About to change the life
of an unsuspecting old man.

[This message has been edited by Sunshine (edited 11-01-1999).]

Elizabeth

Moderator

Member Ascendant

since 1999-06-07

Posts 6871
Minnesota

1 posted 1999-11-01 12:06 PM

Thank you Sunshine--I hope everyone else enjoys it also. I think we need it.

------------------
*Elizabeth*

"Dwelt a maid belov'd and cherish'd by high and low,
But with autumn leaf she perish'd, long time ago..."

"Something sweet, something sort of grandish, sweeps my soul when thou art near..."

Pepper
Member Elite

since 1999-08-19

Posts 3079
Southern Florida

2 posted 1999-11-01 12:46 PM

Thanks for sharing this with us Sunshine.......very good message here....

------------------
A soul that writes from the heart and shares it, truly gives a gift extrordinaire!

WhtDove
Member Rara Avis

since 1999-07-22

Posts 9245
Illinois

3 posted 1999-11-01 02:24 PM

I swear sometimes you guys must be reading my email. I just got this one through here a few days ago. I love it and it such meaning. Thanks for sharing it Sunshine.

Watcher666
Senior Member

since 1999-10-13

Posts 1606

4 posted 1999-11-02 05:11 AM

What a beautiful message! Thank-You for sharing it.

------------------
Illusion...what we see and what we do...it's all up to you.

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