On Mother’s Day weekend in May, I was blessed with the unexpected opportunity and honor to work behind the scenes in a large florist business. If you’re like me you are unaware of the incredible amount of hard work that goes into preparing and designing professional floral arrangements. The Mother’s Day holiday is upstaged by only one other holiday, Valentine’s Day. So needless to say, it was a hectic day for the florist shop and warehouse where I was working.
During the six hour shift I worked, there were at least 16 people feverishly working to send love out the door in the form of flower arrangements. There were floor cleaners, box preppers, vase preppers, flower preppers, floral designers, office staff, delivery drivers, and of course, the owner, Sue, over seeing every step of the process.
When I arrived I was quickly assigned to vase washing. It wasn’t long before I was reminded of another monk who is famous for washing dishes… Brother Lawrence. Once I thought of him, the rest of my day was an incredibly contemplative experience.
When ordering professional flowers we usually think how we are sending our love to a friend or family member. I never imagined the amount of physical labor that goes into the florist business. Back breaking, sweaty hard work is attached to every professional flower arrangement especially those prepared for a major holiday.
This experience will stay with me for the rest of my Life. I am grateful to God for providing this opportunity for me. I hope it won’t be the last time.
“We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.”
~Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
Image Credit: iakovenko / 123RF Stock Photo