326- A Bouquet of Dead Flowers

Christine held some flowers in her hands, arranging them in a vase for her sick mother. Lisa, the nurse, was observing intently from a distance. She asked, “What are you doing, Christine?”

“I am preparing a beautiful bouquet for my mom.”

“You’re right. It’s beautiful. Your mom is a wonderful woman filled with love to you and to many others but wait, don’t put them in the vase yet.”

“Why?”

Lisa went to the other room where Christine sleeps and got her vase and said, “Christine, put those flowers in your vase. The flowers are beautiful. Keep them in your room. When they whither you can put them in the other vase for your mom.”

Christine could not believe what she was hearing. She thought that Lisa loved her mom. She always takes care of her and tries to make her feel comfortable.

Christine said, “What are you saying? Are you kidding?”

- “No, I’m very serious.”

“You want me to offer my mother dead flowers?”

Lisa smiled and hugged Christine and kissed her saying, “You’re a faithful daughter. You want to offer the best to your mom. You want to offer the flowers while they are still beautiful. You don’t want to wait till they wither and become dry. You would consider that an insult and a lack of love but let me ask you, “Why are you waiting for the beautiful flowers to die before you offer them to the Lord that loves you? Don’t you consider that an insult to Him?”

Christine asked in wonder, “How do I do that?”

“The Lord asks for your heart and life while you’re young, full of life but you delay till you become old and offer it then when you lose you vibrancy. At the same time you repeat that you love Him.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: باقة ورد ذابلة.

Abel offered the best of his herd.

 Give me Lord that I may offer you the best of my life.

 I hear you pleading:

“My son, give me your heart.

And let your eyes observe my ways.”

Lord, I give You my heart and thought,

And all my life in Your hands.

Accept my most inner being.

As an acceptable sacrifice.

The Most Precious Gift

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

The Disguised