Which Flower Are
You?
Why
do I always have to be the one that starts to do laundry and there's no
detergent? I guess it was time for me to do my "Dollar Store"
run, which included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags and Clorox. So
off I go.
I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies, and headed for the
checkout counter only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man
that appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry, so I
patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there.
This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a
loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here". It was obvious now, he
was mentally challenged, and also startled as he turned and saw me
standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by.
His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said,
"Hey Buddy, what's your name?" "My name is Denny and
I'm shopping with my mother," he responded proudly. "Wow,"
I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my name is
Hal". " "Hal like Halloween?" he asked.
"Yes," I answered. "How old are you Denny? "How old am
I now Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the
next aisle. "You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and
let the man pass by."
I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes
about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes dance with
excitement because he was the center of someone's attention. He then
abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.
Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking the
time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't even look
at him, much less talk to him. I told her that it was my pleasure
and then I said something I have no idea where it came from, other than by
the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I told her that there are plenty of red,
yellow and pink roses in God's garden, however, "Blue Roses" are
very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness.
You see, Denny is a "Blue Rose" and if someone doesn't stop and
smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness,
then they've missed a blessing from God. She was silent for a second, then
with a tear in her eye she asked, "Who are you?" Without
thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a "daffodil or maybe
even a dandelion," but I sure love living in God's garden.
Author Pastor Hal Steenson
(This
real life story took place July 12, 2006.)
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