Grocery store flowers, redemption, and reduced prices

I could almost hear the flowers screaming from the back, “We’re still alive!”, “We still have so much beauty left to offer”, and “We just need some extra care....".

Before and After

Do you ever feel drawn to those “reduced” flowers at the grocery store? You'll find the dejected pile of blooms behind the produce section behind all the exuberant, fresh, gorgeous blooms that have the prize-winning spot up front.  While the ones that didn’t make the “cut” due to wilting, lost petals, decomposing, or appearing a little lackluster compared to the other bouquets and flowers stay behind, out of sight.  

It’s not surprising really. I love fresh flowers. The whimsy. The romance of them. How unnecessary but how wonderful they are. Beauty can be so healing and comforting.

But today I saw myself when I saw those flowers. “Reduced” because they weren’t as “fresh” as the rest. Anyone in the trenches of anything (parenting or otherwise) will tell you how drained they feel. How “wilty” the sleepless nights and tending to constant needs can make you. How “lackluster” overwhelming worries and fears can make you.

But once I show these “lackluster” and “reduced” blooms a little care, they will come alive again. I’ll cut the stems at an angle to absorb the water better, put them in a fresh clean vase, and prune the leaves that are too far gone. Then I’ll place them in a sunny spot. And they will put on a show! They will reach towards the heavens, open their petals, and look vibrant and exuberant, like the other grocery store flowers, only they needed a little extra care and tending. 

I could almost hear the flowers screaming from the back, “We’re still alive!”, “We still have so much beauty left to offer”, and “we still have a purpose to serve!”, “We just need someone to show us some extra care…”. 

I am these flowers. These flowers are me. I don’t know what kind of season you’re in. Or what kind of year you’ve had. But if I had to guess, you’ve probably been through some things that have made you feel lackluster, wilty, and had experiences that have reduced you in some way… your hope, energy, creativity, or confidence in yourself, your worth, your purpose. I’m here to tell you, you’re not done. You’re not through. You are here for a purpose. You still have so much life and beauty left in you. You just need a little extra care. It’s okay if you're not feeling fresh and shiny like the rest. Your beauty, value, and worth are still there, seen, and known.

I hope you metaphorically (or literally) place yourself in a glass of water, in a sunny spot, prune away the intrusive thoughts, self-doubt, the lies about who you are, and let yourself stretch and reach toward the heavens.