Flowers for Mary

Once, several years ago now, we bought our first house. The previous owners had cultivated a beautiful backyard, which, in the course of the four years that we lived there, I did not manage to completely ruin. Each spring, I would look on in awe at the beauty that was popping out of the ground, unbidden by me, but which was undoubtedly planned and labored for by my talented predecessor.

Having grown up without fresh flowers in my life, my new backyard was an embarrassment of riches. Such wonderful things as "volunteer" tomatoes, fresh chives, lilies, and hostas flourished in that sanctuary. But I will never forget the sweet-smelling, colorful roses.

When the first rose of the year would appear, we had a tradition in our little family to cut it and bring it with us to church. At that time, All Saints only had two Mary statues (I think we're up to five now!) We would go to the statue where the votive candles are lit, and offer the "first fruits" of our garden to our Lady.

Each week, throughout the growing season, we would look to see if there were blooming lilies or roses or other beauties we could set before our Mother as an act of love to her. We did not plant those flowers, but they were still fruits of our garden, and we were happy to offer them as a gift.

Those days, however, are long gone, and unfortunately I still do not have a gardening bone in my body. It has made me sad that my younger girls do not remember that little gesture, because we moved before they were born, and alas, all that's growing in our back yard is grass.

Yet last Sunday, I noticed my Leah (8) running back and forth in the front of the church while we were preparing for the Fire and Mercy musical inside. I saw her skipping and running back and forth from the statue of Mary. I realized she was gathering blossoms from the blooming trees, and dandelions, and whatever else she could find and laying them there at Mary's feet.



So many things about this touched my motherly heart as she completed her task. It was pure joy to see the happiness in her heart as she saw the beauty of the spring and was moved in her spirit to bring that beauty to her Mother as a gift. So simple. So humble. So perfect. Even without a garden, little Leah can find flowers to offer. Flowers for Mary.