Wildflowers--revisted

I first posted this five years ago on Mother's Day. A few of the particulars have changed--for starters, all my children are now married. Candyce is in Uganda instead of Tblisi (although she's still encouraging me to adopt orphans), Lindsay lives in Portland now (thank You, Lord!) and Yellie is giving me my first grandbaby in September.

But the sentiment remains the same . . .

Danielle reminded me of how she used to pick me bouquets of wildflowers on our annual Mother's Day hike. She was the only daughter in town this year and we had a lovely (although somewhat strenous) climb up to Wahkeena Falls. And the hike was sandwiched between two blessed phone calls--the first from Candyce in Tblisi, Georgia and the second from Lindsay in LA.

Candyce only had five minutes to talk, but it was so good to hear her voice. The minutes seemed more like nano-seconds as she tried to describe for me their work with Tblisi orphans over the past few weeks.
"You need to adopt some of these kids, Mom. You can't begin to imagine what their lives are like here . . ."
Those were the last words I heard before the line went dead.

(I actually went online to see how one would go about adopting Tbilisi orphans, but Georgia no longers permits foreign adoptions. I felt so sad for those motherless children and asked the Lord to send others to Tblisi to love them).

Lindsay not only called to say Happy Mums Day, she also sent me a text message. It read:
"Do you remember that 5 Iron Frenzy song 'Dandelions'? I've been singing it all day and thinking of you: 'You see flowers in these weeds . ..' Love you Mom!"

Like that didn't make me cry. (I almost made me forget the fact that she'd forgotten to put my Mother's Day gift in the mail.) Weeds, indeed!

My daughters are most definitely wildflowers . . . beautiful and hearty, flourishing in difficult conditions far from cultured gardens or the beaten path. They are each unique and amazing, spreading the fragrance of Christ wherever they are. The three of them make a bouquet as delightful as the handfuls of flowers they brought me not so many years ago.

I have to admit it's hard to see them grow up and go their separate ways. But it's time for me to gather my little wildflowers and hand them back to God, grateful for the privilege I've had to help shape their young lives.

And there is so much to look forward to . . . like getting my first bouquet of wildflowers from my little grandbaby's hand!