Picture of Janie

Picture of Janie
REAL TALK

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

I am one that some mornings I wake up with a song in my head. Well, the song, "Where Have All The Flowers Gone," was one that wouldn't let me go.

I went to my you tube site to listen to Peter, Paul & Mary and posted a couple of songs that I have fond memories of as a 16 year old back in the late 60's. As I listened to the words to the song, the line, "Oh When Will They Ever Learn" and "Long Time Passing" stuck out for me.

I haven't posted a blog in quite a few weeks. Maybe this is due to finding out the news of my mother's diagnoses of lung cancer. My brain has been stuck on this news, and trying my best to digest this and process through it.

My mind has of course been on yearning for Spring and Summer. Elizabeth and Phil always have their tradition of planting their flowers each spring, so my eyes are focused on the snow beginning to melt away from the sidewalk revealing the ground, promising me that I will not be seeing snow forever and I will soon be viewing our flowers.

Then you've got the flowers thing going on in my head. Most of the years I was married to a man who would always be abusive, and then follow up with apologies, cards and flowers. That is called the "wheel", or the "cycle of abuse." I finally told him I hated flowers and cards, they meant nothing to me! And I meant every word of I said.

We see flowers given for some many occasions, such as gifts to your new found love, anniversary's, Valentine's Day, and let's not forget funerals. There have been times in the last few years I've just bought them for myself, indicating I was over that stage of hating flowers and what they represented to me, and I was going to enjoy them as long as I could.

These flowers never live long, although we do our best to keep them alive as long as possible. We cut away the ends of the stems, we add the little packet of "stuff" to the water, but they eventually die.

Oh when will they ever learn? Long time passing. We are a little like flowers. Each beautiful in it's own way. But, let us enjoy this time of beauty with the ones we love and accept the fact that we will not live forever. I don't believe this is a morbid thought, but just a reminder to not take those who cross our paths and our dearest ones for granted. Stop and smell the beautiful aroma they produce, enjoy the vibrant colors! These are all gifts from God to us. Let us be grateful for the time they are with us.

7 comments:

  1. Hello, Janie, good to hear from you again! I noticed that both of us seemed to have taken a blog-writing break between February 25th and this weekend... sometimes it's good to take time to consider our thoughts and deal with what's going on around us before trying to put anything into words. I've always had the tendency to write (or at least share my writing) too soon...before my heart and mind have really learned the lesson God is teaching me or before I've really had time to get used to a change in my life. Sometimes, we just have to be still and experience and wait for God's guidance.

    I know you've been dealing with a lot of life-changing news lately on top of all the life-changing moments of the past that must at least somehow influence your life now.

    Take heart in your own words that our time here on this earth is fleeting like the flowers. The Psalmist commented that we are like grass, or like flowers, that soon withereth away and blow away in the wind, but even so, God is mindful of us and loves us. And in Him, His followers will have eternal life that is not at all fleeting! (Psalm 103, particularly verses 13-17)

    Thanks for reminding us to be grateful for the blessed gifts God gives us like flowers and also like special people, special moments, and special experiences that come into our lives and pass away from them just like the physical flowers that grow and die during the seasons of the year.

    You're always in my prayers!

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  2. Thanks as always faithful friend for stopping by and reading. Yes, I have taken a break. Just too many emotions running wild in my head. I don't like to write something (not that I write anything notable) unless I feel "it" come to me. Thanks for your prayers. xxxooo Janie

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  3. Missed not seeing you, but understand the need to take a breather. I have always loved that folk song. I play it on my guitar in fact.

    I know you have a lot on your plate and I can only ask that God continue to comfort you during this difficult season.

    (((((Janie))))

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  4. Thanks J.B.R. Feel funny always referring to you as that. I've always wanted to learn to play the guitar! What a wonderful outlet of expression. Thank you for your prayers and stopping by. :) Janie

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  5. What a beautiful post. Your last paragraph made me stop and realize how I have taken some people for granted.

    You are the best.

    I'm not going to take you for granted. :)

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  6. Marty, your comments brought tears to my eyes! I'm not taking you for granted either my friend. Janie

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  7. You always pass by my blog and say such lovely things (because you are lovely) and tell me that my writing has had such an impact on you. Well all I'm doing is sharing the stuff that goes on in my head and my experiences. That's all. Just being a flower spreading my fragrance :)

    And the same goes for you. Whenever you write, you let some of your fragrance out into the world and a beautiful fragrance it is. I know life hasn't been easy for you but you have kept your heart loving and THAT is a tribute to your strength and goodness inside.

    Every time you write, your intelligence and sensitivity beams out to the world. You are a true beautiful sweet smelling flower. Keep on smelling :)

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