“See how the wildflowers grow? They don’t worry about their appearance.” ~ Matthew
6: 28
In the hollers of eastern Kentucky
lived an elderly woman famous to the locals as ‘Lilly.’ She got that title decades ago when she began
raising Easter Lilies and giving them out in church on Easter Sundays.
Children always received their flowers first, which partly
explained why kids adored her. That, and
the fact that she was great listener. Piercing
eyes and a bird-like habit of tilting her head to the side when she listened,
quickly disarmed even the most reticent child.
A few days before Easter, a 9 year old girl named Brook came
to see Lilly. Long beautiful lashes
struggled to hide the sadness welling behind them.
“Some boys at school told me I’m ugly,” Brook began choking
back tears. “Lilly, why didn’t God make
me pretty like my sister?
The old woman passed Brook a tissue before speaking in a slow,
measured voice; one that revealed more wisdom than age. “That’s an easy one
dear child. I remember when your sister was your age. You look just like she did then.”
Her eyes twinkled whimsically before continuing. “Boys can’t see very well until they get
their new eyes. That happens
about age 16. Then those boys will like
how you look so much, they’ll all want “selfies” with you to brag to their
friends that you like them the most.
Brook was not convinced!
So Lilly said: “Right now while you’re little, your grown up face is
squeezed into a small package like a seed. As you mature, your face stretches and it will
grow like a flower and become a beautiful face. Brook’s confused expression prompted Lilly to demonstrate
with one of her Easter Lilies.
“For many,” Lilly digressed, “these beautiful trumpet-shaped
white flowers symbolize purity, goodness, hope and life - the essence of
Easter. It’s been said that they sprang
from the places on the ground where Jesus’ sweat fell from the cross.
But its beauty takes time.”
“It starts as a small, baby bulblet growing underground on
the stem of its mother plant. When the
mother plant is harvested, the bulblet is carefully removed and planted in
another field. One year later, the
bulblet, now called a yearling, is dug up again. The yearling is planted in a new field for
another full year of special care to allow it to grow into its full potential
as a majestic white lily.”
“Someday a man looking for a beautiful flower will find you.
Why, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if
you grew up to be the prettiest flower in the whole field. So don’t listen to what people with poor
vision say about you anymore.”
Brook blushed. “I
love you Lilly, and lily,” she giggled.
“Happy Easter!”
Lord Jesus, Your lilies serve as a beautiful reminder that Easter is a
time for rejoicing and celebrating.
“Sweetest lilies pure and white, Flooding darkness with their light,
Bloom and sorrow drifts away, On this Holy hallow’d day. ~
Louise Lewin
