Flowers And Grace: TweetsGiving 2009

For the next few days, I’m participating in TweetsGiving 2009, a global celebration that seeks to change the world through the power of gratitude. I will return to my normal topics about associations, education, meetings and events, and social media on in a few days.

As I sit on my front porch in the cool of Autumn, I look around my front yard. Landscapes one flush with spring and summer flowers look barren and cold.

I smile as I remember where the yellow columbine bloom every spring. Then I recall another story:

I picked a flower for you.

I am sitting on my front porch steps when my neighbor’s dog and kids see me. They all come bounding across the street to greet me. Their mother shakes her head and apologizes. I smile.

Mom walks across the street and I say, “You know, Emma, brought me a wonderful flower the other day.”

Emma hangs her head, sits down beside me and says, “I have to tell you something.”

I hear the serious tone and look her in the eye. “I picked that flower in your yard,” she confesses.

My grin expands. “Emma, you can pick our flowers any time.”

She looks up at me with bright eyes and then at her mother. “He says I can pick their flowers any time!” Mom sighs and tells Emma to pick just one, every now and then.

“Good things happen when we are honest,” I say.

Honesty. The unworthy becomes worthy. Through confession, the offender is forgiven. And not with grudging limits, but extravagantly. “You can pick flowers any time.”

Worthiness, it seems is ours to gain or lose. The invitation is open to all, both good and bad. I believe that worthiness isn’t determined by past behavior but by acceptance of grace today.

Our neighbor, her kids and dog turn to walk across the street. A light-hearted girl runs back to pick a flower.

I watch her and smile, once again.

She then places the small yellow flower in her mom’s hand. “I picked this for you.”

Grace begets grace.

Today, I’m grateful for the grace many people have given me. May I be able to show others that same grace.

Please join me in this global celebration of thanks and gratefulness. 

Please join me in this global celebration of thanks and gratefulness. I hope you’ll visit the TweetsGiving site to learn more, and to bring your grateful heart to the party by sharing your gratitude, and giving in honor of that for which you’re most thankful.