A Beautiful Flower
The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read, beneath the
long, straggly branches of an old willow tree. Disillusioned by life with good
reason to frown, for the world was intent on dragging me down. And if that
weren't enough to ruin my day, a young boy approached me, all tired from play.
He stood right before me with his head tilted down and said with great
excitement, "Look what I found!" In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful
sight, With its petals all worn- not enough rain, or too little light.
Wanting
him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then
shifted away. But instead of retreating he sat next to my side And declared with
overacted surprise, "It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too. That's why I
picked it; here, it's for you. "The weed before me was dying or dead, not
vibrant of colors: orange, yellow or red. But I knew I must take it, or he might
never leave. So I reached for the flower, and replied,"Thanks, just what I need.
But instead of him placing the flower in my hand, he held it mid-air without
reason or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very first time that
weed-toting boy could not see he was blind.
I heard my voice quiver, tears shone
in the sun as I thanked him for picking the very best one. "You're welcome," he
smiled, and then ran off to play, unaware of the impact he'd had on my day. I
sat there and wondered how he managed to see A self-pitying woman beneath an old
willow tree.
How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his
heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see The
problem was not with the world; the problem was me.
And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to
see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second that's mine. And then I held
that wilted flower up to my nose And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful
rose.
And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in his
hand, about to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.
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