Weeds or flowers...It's a matter of perspective!

This morning we took the kids out to the playground for recess before lunch. Little first grade legs scurried in the fastest walk you might imagine down the sidewalk as they looked towards the playground. At first, I thought their excitement was because the swings have returned, but I was wrong. Once off the cement and over the pavement over half the students ran into the field with shrieks of laughter and pure joy.

With the exception of about a dozen kiddos, they blew PAST the brightly colored equipment until they reached the grass and dandelions. Some were rolling on the grass. A few lay on their backs to look for shapes in the clouds. In addition, many started to pick beautiful bouquets of flowers.

One of the kids blessed me with a flower but in less than fifteen minutes, I too had a bouquet to bring home. With each flower, I said, “Thank you so much. I love it.”

One girl who typically struggles in math came up to me, saw I had two flowers and handed me two more as she said, “Now you have four Mrs. Buske.” Wow. This sweet young girl was simply sharing her joy with me but taught me a valuable lesson; never underestimate a person’s ability. Who knows, maybe on paper “2 + 2 =” is simply a bunch of numbers but when it comes to expressing her kindness and heart, two flowers makes double in one of her teacher’s hands.

Jesus is right, we can learn so much from a child. They didn’t need fancy equipment or toys today. Sunshine, a cool breeze, and an array of yellowish-orange dandelions sparked creativity, compassion, and concern. Not one child out of nearly fifty picked themselves a bouquet of flowers! Every single child picked oodles and oodles of flowers to bless someone else with.

Even though the floral arrangements, highlighted with blades of grass “for color” might have died during the afternoon – it is the thought that counts. The next time you look into your newly mowed lawn and those annoying weeds start to take over, I encourage you to remember the generosity of a child. One person’s weeds are another’s joy.

Jump for joy and share the love with another!

P.S. To my Daddy – I love the look of mulched dandelion bouquets too! LOL

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