Floral Sunshine

·       “Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” (Luther Burbank)

·       “Think about how the wildflowers grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon[i], the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.” Luke 12:27 (ERV)

Like music, flowers have a way of communicating intense emotions (that the written or verbal word can’t). Are you aware that the color of a flower can let the recipient know exactly what feeling you want them to take notice of? Below is a handy color guide for when you wish to give another individual a floral moment.

·       “God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.” (Martin Luther)

Red communicates intense romantic love (or passion), seduction, and desire.

·       “You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry, don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.”  (Walter Hagen)

Orange communicates happiness, joy, and the warmth of sunshine.

·       “The flowers are springing up and the time of the singing of birds has come. Yes, spring is here.” Song of Solomon 2:12 (TLB)

Pink communicates femininity, innocence, playfulness, sensitivity, thoughtfulness, and spontaneity.

·       “The grass withers, the flower fades; nothing lasts except the Word of our God. It will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8 (VOICE)

Yellow communicates friendship, trust, compassion (sympathy), and respect.

·       “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” (Abraham Lincoln)

 Green communicates harmony (balance) with nature and good fortune, which leads to resilience and a youthful outlook.

·       “After women, flowers are the [loveliest] thing God has given the world.” (Christian Dior)

 Blue communicates calmness and serenity, get-well, and is appropriate for long-term couples who want to exchange their deep and abiding trust for each other.

·       “Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into.” (Henry Ward Beecher)

 Purple communicates mystery, an enchanted (other worldly) quality, charm, grace, elegance, and refinement.

·       “But immoral ones will find their lives cut short; they’ll vanish as quickly as wildflowers in the fields.” Psalm 37:20 (VOICE)

White communicates eternal unconditional love, purity, and spirituality.

·       “When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so. They have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it (whether they want to or not).” (Georgia O'Keeffe)

White/Red (together) communicates harmony and excitement (purity and passion). There is a promise of adventure wrapped in elegance (as well as unity and togetherness).[ii]

·       “For happiness one needs security, but joy can spring like a flower even from the cliffs of despair.” (Anne Morrow Lindbergh)

“We need to find God and God cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature (trees, flowers, grass) grow in silence; see the stars, the moon, the sun, how they move in silence.

Is not our mission to give God to the poor in the slums? Not a dead God, but a living, loving God. The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life. We need silence to be able to touch souls.

The essential thing is not what we say, but what God says to us and through us. All our words will be useless unless they come from within -words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness.” (Mother Teresa)

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[i] Solomon’s parents were David and Bathsheba.

[ii] Sources used:  “When I Give Someone Flowers, What Message is the Color Sending?” By SJW and “Flower Color Symbolism” (www.flowershopping.com)