FLOWERS FOR THE LIVING
Guy F. Hester

On the occasion of the funeral of a loved one or friend we customarily place flowers around the coffin and over the grave site with them after they are buried. This is all well and good and is appreciated by the family members, but the deceased knows nothing about it. How much better it would have been if we had given them the flowers while they lived.

Closed eyes cannot see the pretty flowers,
Cold hands cannot hold them you know,
Breath that is stilled cannot gather the sweet breezes that from them blow.
Death is a sleep beyond dreaming,
Its children of earth doth endow,
So give your flowers to the living,
Give them the flowers now.
Someday you'll stand by a coffin,
And stroke a cold lifeless brow,
Don't waste these precious moments,
But give them the flowers now.

Each day that we live, we have the opportunity of bestowing flowers upon someone in need. The apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 6:10, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." This admonition would cover a broad range of services we might render. There is always a brother or a neighbor who needs encouragement. And, giving encouragement to one who is disheartened is just as much our Christian duty as reproving the disorderly. We read in 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15, "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men." Just before Paul wrote these words, he had written how that we should edify and encourage one another as fellow-members of the body of Christ. Notice verses 11-13, "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their works' sake. And be at peace among yourselves."
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we were as quick to edify and commend as we are to criticize and condemn? Why should we wait until someone dies to express how we felt about them? To use an old but very beautiful expression, "Let us give them our roses while they live!" This would apply to all those who have meant something to our lives. Mother and Dad, if we are fortunate enough to have them still living. Elders in the church. Former teachers and preachers. Or, perhaps, other friends who have helped us to take courage and make the right choices in life. If we will stop and think, each of us is indebted to so very many. Don't wait until they die, express appreciation while they are still living! The Bible says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth" (Ephesians 6:1-3). If there is anything that will "make my blood boil," it is to hear children speak in a disrespectful manner to their parents, especially their mothers, who went right into the jaws of death to bring them into this world. Someday, young people, you will stand by the coffin and remember when it is too late to say, "I'm sorry." When parents are old and unable to
do for themselves and the children, whom they have sacrificed so much to raise, stand by and do little or nothing, will one day have occasion to regret it, perhaps eternally. Over the years I have noticed that, as a rule, the ones who take it the hardest at the funeral of a mother or father are the ones who have paid them the least attention in life.
Husbands and wives, the time will come when one of you will stand by the lifeless form of the other and speak kind and loving words that their ears will not hear. But you can speak those words now! Why wait when they are hungering now to hear you say, "I love you!" Husbands, how long has it been since you told your wife how pretty she is? "Flowers from the garden will wilt and fade but the flowers of kindness she'll carry to the grave." Paul said, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Ephesians 5:25). Again, "Husbands, lover your wives, and be not bitter against them" (Colossians 3:19). Wives, a bouquet of kindness will go a long way in getting your husbands to give you the attention that you want and deserve.
We are living in a frustration-ridden, problem-laden world. There are opportunities on every hand to reach out and expend a helping hand or to show sincere interest in those struggling under a heavy load. One of the greatest gifts you will ever be able to give in this life is understanding or "moral support" to one who may be carrying a heavy load or struggling with some difficult problem.
These, then, are just a few of the multitude of opportunities that come our way daily to give flowers to the living. May they serve to remind us of the importance of making the most of the opportunities which come our way every day that we might truly "redeem the time" and use each day as fully as possible to God's glory.-1925 County Highway 59, Haleyville, AL 35565
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