Say it with Roses

Coral Rose Card, Thinking of you today. by barbsbooks
Design a note card on zazzle.com

It's funny how an expected or "duty" gift sometimes falls flat. If people feel that you are supposed to get them somehting because of a special occasion, the gift sometimes loses its "punch." Those kind of gifts are the hardest to give because. as givers, we don't always have something in mind and probably would not be giving the gift if we didn't feel we were supposed to and that takes much of the joy out of it. It sometimes takes the joy out of it for the receiver, too, if they think you only did it because you felt obligated. So neither giver or receiver gets very excited about it, though if you don't do it, you know the person expecting the gift will be disappointed, or even angry.

On the other hand, if you want your gift to really thrill someone, or at least be a day brightener, give it when there is no special occasion. Flowers are easy to send, but if you can't afford them too often, send a card in the mail. A real greeting card, carefully selected, with a personal note, will be treasured by the recipent. What a pleasant surprise it is to get a real card or letter when you are used to getting nothing but bills and junk mail in your mailbox.

Think about what happens you get a snail mail card or letter from a loved one. You pick up your mail, start sorting, and there among all the assembly line mail is a hand-addressed envelope with a real stamp. You open it first. You quickly read the greeting and then look to see if there is also a personal note. If that note is special, or even if the card is special, you might keep it and reread if often. When I was sorting through my mom's things after she died, I saw all the cards and letters my brother and I had sent her over the years. They were important to her because they symbolized our love for her. Now, compare that to an email that is quickly sent and maybe not read again.

Something as small as a card can do a lot to brighten the day of a shut-in who may spend her days reading or watchiing TV without much contact with people. The card is only half of it. What counts is that you took that few minutes to write a real note or letter and address the envelope and put it in the mail. And that meant you were thinking of the recipient. When you are lonely and can't get out anymore, it is a very big thing to know someone has been thinking of you. Sending a flowers or a card is one of those little things that can mean a lot.

Most of the roses in this lens have come from the garden my mother left me, and any of the Zazzle products featured created by barbsbooks are either from this garden or one of the gardens I've passed in my walks around Templeton and Paso Robles, California.

I hope, if nothing else, I have brought to mind some person who needs a card or gift, perhaps of roses, from you -- maybe an unexpected gift. If you love someone, even if it's your sister, tell her, and, of course, say it with flowers --even if they are on paper.