97 Selling Flowers in the Rain
Gordon had always noticed the man selling flowers on the street corner every day as he drove home from work. Every time Gordon was stopped at the light by that street corner, the man would come up to Gordon and ask if he wanted to buy any flowers. However, Gordon would always scoff at the man and quickly roll up his window.
"Why is that annoying flower seller still there?" wondered Gordon to himself as the light would turn green. "I've never seen anyone buy flowers from him. Why, I bet he just takes the flowers from the trash bin behind the local flower shop!"
One day as Gordon was driving home in heavy rain, he suddenly realized that he had completely forgotten his wedding anniversary. Gordon did not remember to buy something for wife! Stricken with his panic, Gordon furiously racked his brain for a last-minute gift. In desperation, he thought of the flower seller. Would it be possible that he would be there in this weather?
It was far too late for Gordon to do any last-minute shopping, so he drove back to the street corner hoping that the flower seller would be there. Sure enough, the flower seller was at that very corner, standing patiently in the rain with an umbrella selling his flowers.
Gratefully, Gordon drove up to the flower seller and asked to buy one bouquet of flowers. The flower seller gave Gordon a bouquet and asked for five dollars. Gordon hurriedly gave him a twenty dollar bill, thanked him, and told him to keep the change. Gordon quickly sped off for home.
When Gordon got home, he slowly walked up to the front door with the bouquet of flowers in hand. He was thinking up of lame excuses to give his wife when she would mostly get angry at him for bringing her such a cheap gift. When Gordon's wife opened the door, he wished her a happy anniversary and sheepishly gave her the flowers. To Gordon's surprise, his wife's eyes widened as she looked at the flowers. She marveled at the exquisite beauty of the flowers. She smelled the flowers and exclaimed that they smelled heavenly! She hugged Gordon and chastised him for spending so much on flowers for her. Surely, these flowers must have cost Gordon a fortune, she exclaimed!
Gordon took a deeper look at the flowers and he realized that indeed they were truly beautiful. As he walked hand-in-hand with his wife into the house, Gordon silently thanked the patient flower seller and vowed to buy flowers from him every week from now on.
Jesus was not highly esteemed by any of the religious or political leaders during his time on earth. Yet He is indeed the Desire of all nations. Likewise, many people today may scoff at the Bible and take it lightly. However there are those who have taken the time to patient study it and realize the true beauty and magnificence of the Word of God that lies in the pages within.
- Recommended reading: Isaiah 53:1-12
