I have worked as a church secretary for seventeen years, and I have experienced some mountaintop highs and valleys low. There have been moments that broke my heart and others that caused my heart to sing. You see and hear a lot behind the scenes. King Solomon wrote these words in the book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3.
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”
A sweet couple that attended the church where I worked had a beautiful granddaughter named Avery. She had battled cancer long and hard, and it claimed her life. On May 21, 2021, her family had a Celebration of Life service to honor Avery. Her grandmother, Deb Richey, reached out to me that night. Someone had sent a huge basket of fresh cut flowers to the family. She asked if we would like to use them for Sunday morning worship service at the church.
I stopped by her home on Saturday morning and picked up the basket of flowers. Beautiful sunflowers, white lilies, red roses, and daisies filled the arrangement, and the aroma was wonderful. Deb and her husband Loyd were happy that someone would be able to enjoy them before they began to wither and die. I took the flowers to the church and sat them on a table near the main entrance so everyone could enjoy their beauty.
We also had a bridal tea at the church later that Sunday evening. The bride’s favorite flower was sunflowers, and we had not been able to find any. We were so happy to see the five big sunflowers in the arrangement that we were able to use them as centerpieces on the tables.
On Monday morning, I took the basket with the remaining flowers, placed them in a little wagon, and headed down the sidewalk to dispose of them in the dumpster. Before I made it to the dumpster, five little girls were playing on the sidewalk. When they saw the flowers, they squealed, “What are you going to do with the pretty flowers?” (The children went to school at The Shepherd’s Place on the church campus.) I told them I was going to throw them away because they were dying. One of the girls asked if they could have them, and I agreed after their teacher approved.
Each little girl took her turn picking out flowers until they were all gone. The only thing left in the basket was the greenery. One of the girls reached and took the green leaves and said, “They look like palm branches.” She raised them high in the air and began to quote scripture,
“Hosanna, Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
She was smiling, twirling, and full of life! That little girl was declaring him as Lord with her praise. At that moment, the Spirit of the Lord took me to another realm, and I could sense the presence of the Lord. I caught a heavenly glimpse of Avery dancing with Jesus in a meadow of beautiful spring flowers. I wept. I laughed. I rejoiced. Avery was home. Avery was cancer-free. Avery was happy, and joy was oozing out of her. Avery was more alive than she had ever been!
When I came back to myself (my flesh), one of the girls said, “All that is left is the green sponge in the bottom of the basket.” She stuck her fingers in the sponge and yelled, “It feels just like slime!” Then she took it out and played with it.
I remembered Avery’s mom, Lori Beth, writing in her blog that Avery loved slime! As the pictures of Avery danced in my mind, the Lord allowed me to catch a glimpse of pure joy that day. These children were overflowing with the joy of the Lord, and they took me into worship.
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)
I threw away nothing. Every flower, stem, greenery, and even the sponge was used as a reminder that,
“Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”
I stood there, caught up in a mountaintop high and a valley low. As I made my way back to the church, I thanked God for that day, that moment, and those children. I thanked God for the life and memory of a 7-year-old named Avery Richey. I thanked Him for using a basket of flowers to remind me that He is ever-present in every little thing, every detail, and that I should praise Him as these little ones do.
“All things work together for good to those who love God.” Romans 8:28 KJV
Summary:
A friend sent a basket of beautiful, fresh cut flowers to a family who was saying goodbye to their baby girl. The basket arrived for the Celebration of Life service and sat in all its glory. Then it traveled home with the grandparents, who decided to share the beautiful flowers from God’s garden with others. Then God took the basket of flowers and distributed them to welcome the people who came into His House, the House of the Lord. The flowers brought a smile to a new Bride’s face, and they were distributed to five little girls who danced before the Lord.
The Shepherd’s Place teaches the Word of God to its students. They are planting gospel seeds. The little girl blessed me beyond measure that day. She knew exactly what she was talking about as she danced around with the green leaves held high in the sky and proclaimed that Jesus is the Messiah. Her praise ushered me into the presence of the Lord.
Today is Palm Sunday. Let us be as little children. Raise your palm branches, children of God, and cast them at the Messiah’s feet. Lift your voice and sing with me from the depths of your hearts. We have so much to be joyful about! The Messiah came. The Messiah died. The Messiah rose from the grave. We, too, shall rise to meet Him!
“Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Mark 11:8-10 NIV
Dana Hill
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#danahillblogs