A Different Mother's Day

by Kate Collins

Mother's Day was one of those dreaded "firsts" for me – first one since my husband passed away – so I was not expecting much. In fact, after church, I came home and wept and made my daughters, who were visiting, feel pretty miserable, too, as if they needed more sadness.

But they weren't about to let me wallow. They had made plans for us. So after lunch, they put me in the car and we went flower shopping. Let me tell you, there's nothing like a beautiful day and a greenhouse full of lovely scents and bright colors to lighten one's burdens and mood. We picked out geraniums and petunias and gerberas in bold pink, white, rich purple, and sunny yellow, and spikes and ferns for greenery. Then we drove home, put on some old shoes and garden gloves, dug out the trowels, and got busy.

Two hours later, we had dirt under our nails – so much for the gloves – pots full of flowers, and smiles on our faces. What great therapy! And the bonus is that every time I walk out the front or back doors, I will see those lovely pots of blossoms and remember this Mother's Day, when my girls and I worked out our grief together and found joy in being together.

Garden therapy. I highly recommend it.

P.S. They made dinner for me, too.