Dancing Among the Flowers

“Almsgiving doesn’t have to be a grand gesture or a big check. We can invite God into these decisions and petition Him in daily prayer to put us on the path with someone or something that needs our attention. He will act in us.” (The Compass Club, pg. 86) came to mind when I was received this beautiful bouquet of flowers from a bible study friend who I hadn’t seen in a few years ago. The gift was timely because I was starting to feel choked by the “weeds” of the demands of my own life as a new author and busy Mom. It was one of those days! It was a divine reminder to take comfort and be grateful for the beauty that surrounds us through the hearts of cherished friends that God sends to walk with us on our path—a reminder to dance for
joy!

I attended a retreat weekend in NYC five years ago with Immaculee Ilibagiza , a Rwandan American author (https://www.immaculee.com/pages/about). She has an incredible story of survival from her enemies during the Rwandan Holocaust. Her escape from death while captive in a small bathroom with other women for 90 days is unprecedented and remarkable. Her story, “Left to Tell” and other books she’s authored about her faith, forgiveness and message of healing and hope is transformative.

During the retreat she shared many stories of the Blessed Mother’s appearances to the visionaries in Kibeho. Kibeho, Africa remains the only Vatican approved apparition in Africa today. She told them that she saw the
pilgrims as flowers. She instructed the helpers during the visions to “water the flowers” -containers were filled with ordinary water that she had blessed. During our retreat mass Immaculee asked us to bring flowers to the altar and also place them in the containers. When I received these flowers from my friend I was reminded that the gift was more—it was an invitation to see the deeper meaning in the flowers as Immaculee had shared.

We are all flowers in the God’s garden. We need to consistently ask for the grace to keep our soil rich so that we can grow in grace and share the fragrance of our faith with those placed in our path.