"Oh no, not the Camellia bush," I gasped as I opened the front door to little hands full of heart shaped pink petals."Mommy, look at what I've done for you. I only used the flowers on the ground... not any from the bush."
It was hard to believe that the pathway of pink pedals could have only come from the fallen blooms. But I held my tongue and smiled at the beautiful display that stretched before me.
Much later in the day, my son's friends came to pick them up. They were going out. I didn't want my boys to go out. I didn't want them to get in a car with other boys and drive away.
Though I trust them, it is still much more comforting to know they are just in the other room playing video games or watching basketball. I wish this was the definition of going out. I wish my frozen pizza seemed more appealing to them than the food at the restaurant where they were headed.
I followed them to the front door with the normal speech they can all repeat with me word for word. They know what I am saying is as much to comfort my heart as it is a reminder for them.
"Don't drive too fast... wear your seatbelt... be home on time... and most importantly remember who you are."
As they walked down the front walkway and over the delicate pink petals, I called out to the one driving and added one last thing, "you are not just driving off with my son, you know. You are driving off with part of my heart."
He called back, "I got it Mrs. T. I'll take care of your heart."
With that they were gone.
And then I loved that Brooke had scattered the delicate heart-shaped petals at the front door. I picked one up and examined how perfectly heart shaped it really is. I was amazed by the color, the texture, and how something so complicated could come from such a simple looking bush.
I smile at both the Creator and His creation.
When I can't control everything around me, everything around me seems to be a reminder of just how in control God is.
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