On Valentine’s Day, I gathered with some people at Church to make Valentine cards to deliver to residents at an assisted living center in North Aurora. Each of the residents would be getting a card and a carnation. Though the residents vary in age, all are incapable of living on their own due to mental or physical disabilities.
I am not a “believer” in Valentine’s Day, so I generally disregard anything associated with it. To be honest, as I was gluing little pink hearts onto purple cards, I was thinking that it was all kind of cliché. I thought the residents would look at the card and carnation as a novel gesture, but ultimately as somewhat impersonal and trite. I could just imagine them saying “Wow…you shouldn’t have…really”.
When we got to the home and began passing the cards and flowers out, I saw that my misgivings couldn’t have been further from the truth. I could see the joy on the residents’ faces as we handed them our hastily constructed cards and inexpensive flowers, things that most people would disregard as trivial and bothersome.
As I watched some of the residents hold their carnation to their nose, taking in the scent as if it were the most beautiful fragrance, I was struck by a thought…my unwillingness to slow down and appreciate small, seemingly insignificant things, like a carnation, is unfortunate. They treated a carnation the same way we would treat the most exquisite rose.
While there are a number of thoughts I can take away from this experience, the one that sticks out the most is that in all of the “important” things we find to fill our time with, somewhere inside us is that same level of appreciation. As trite and cliché as it may be, we need to be reminded to stop and smell the roses…and maybe even the carnations.
Thanks, Andy. This is a good reminder for all of us. Last weekend I was marveling at the beauty of light shining on my clean, new floors. That's not as generous as your Valentines, but I was amazed that this was something I'd never appreciated before. Of course, the floor had been pretty disgusting until last weekend, but it was a nice reminder of how much joy simple things can bring to our lives. Simple things like a drum sander with 12-grit paper.
ReplyDeleteAndy, are you sure you're not just trying to prep Janell for a very underimpressive Valentine's Day next year? "But honey, you need to slow down and really learn to appreciate these toothpicks that I glued into the shape of a heart on an old paper plate!" Even so, thanks for the reminder. It's good to remember that sensitivity to the small beauty around us is so rewarding. Also, thanks for making me feel guilty for sitting around on Valentine's Day and failing to hand out any cards to anyone.
ReplyDeleteAndy,
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool thing you did - I had to comment. I've been in Florida the last 10 days spending each day with my dad who is in a nursing care facility. Not only loving on him and helping with his care, but observing the others in with him. We have no idea the men and women in care facilities like that who don't have anyone who comes and sees them, or cares about them. Oh, maybe at Christmas, but Valentines Day? What you did meant more to them, i'm sure, than you'll ever know. At times we take each other and our families for granted along with the little things like a home made card and a carnation. We are very blessed. Thank you for the reminder. And David...next year it's your turn (smile).