I bought this bouquet earlier this week, drawn by the striking colors and the unusual combination of formal roses and playful, vibrant mini chrysanthemums. The cashier oohed as she carefully wrapped them, “These are beautiful.”
Proflowers says
Suited to reverent occasions, the white rose is a fitting way to honor a friend or loved one in recognition of a new beginning or a farewell. Their pure color conveys respect, pays homage to new starts and expresses hope for the future.
Telefora adds that
…chrysanthemums symbolize optimism and joy…It’s said that a single petal of this celebrated flower placed at the bottom of a wine glass will encourage a long and healthy life.
Yesterday, we attended a memorial service to say farewell to a man we respected and loved, Conrad Wysocki, who recently passed away at age 91. He lived a long, spiritually-centered life, one full of adventure, surrounded by family, and awash with friends. His memorial ran the emotional gamut: reverent, humorous, and poignant.
We returned home to see a baby quail had hatched while we were gone. We added it to the growing family in our aviary. Its fellow quail huddled close in warm and supportive welcome of this tiny new life.
Every day, these simple dramas happen everywhere to everything. Lives begin and end. Joy abounds. Grief provides a sharp and painful counterpoint, making us value happiness all the more. Hope for the future is grounded in coming to terms with the past.
I did not know, when appreciating the simply beauty of these flowers, that a deeper connection might be why they attracted me so. The roses, lovely and pure, reflected the deep respect we felt for our friend and his family during their time of mourning, and the small yet magical delight we felt when our new quail arrived to remind us renewal is ongoing The mums, signifying optimism and joy, echoed our friend Conrad’s long life and the happiness he brought to others. Reminding us to look forward to our own adventures, they were a perfect complement. Life, in all its beauty, its hellos and goodbyes, reverence and joy, wrapped up in this single bouquet.
Amen!
The sexton, in turn, gave the grapes as a gift to the youngest novice, that he might understand that the work of God is in the smallest details of Creation. When the novice received them, he remembered the first time he came to the monastery, and of the person who had opened the gates for him; it was that gesture which allowed him to be among this community of people who knew how to value the wonders of life.