Let Children Pick Flowers Instead Of Picking Fights
They came in stealth, eyes alert to each and every movement. With hands faster than the Sundance Kid, they grasped a flower, bringing it to their noses, breathing deeply. Stepping from the shadows, I startled them. In one bounding leap they disappeared into the safety of the unkempt apartment across the street. I thought: “Foiled again! Next time I’ll catch those little bandits.”
Next time came only minutes later. I was there, waiting. “What are you boys doing?” “We only wanted to see your roses,” they replied.
“These are not roses. They are tulips. Do you like them?” I questioned.
“Oh yes!” cried the older one. “We want to give one to our mommy. She likes roses too.”
A light went on in my mind and the realization came that our yard must be as tempting as “The Secret Garden” to children surrounded by concrete, dirt and pavement. From their apartment with no screens on the windows, torn curtains floating freely in the hot summer breezes, I’d often heard adults raging. All these little ones desired was a touch of beauty, something to feed starved souls.
My heart cried with memories of wildflower-dressed fields and orchards hanging heavy with fruit where my siblings and I could pick whenever the desire came upon us. I remember tummy aches from green apples and the joy in my mommy’s eyes when I’d hand her a straggly bouquet of wild roses and sweet clover. I also remember stealing Grandpa’s raspberries just for the excitement of not getting caught.
A heavy sadness cloaked me and I thought of the millions of children with starved souls. Just seven blocks from our garden, a 15-year-old boy shot and killed two teenage girls recently. In 10 years, would these little boys be stealing guns instead of roses?
So I asked “Would you like some flowers to take to your mommy?”
“Oh lady, yes!”
Together we picked a big bouquet. “Boys, whenever you want flowers, just come to the door and ask.”
They do come. I wonder, what would happen to the souls of children if we’d take down our fences, plant lots of flowers for children to pick and apples for them to eat? What would happen if instead of calling the police on these children we’d call down God’s love and truly be neighbor to one another?
Yes, two young people were killed just down the street from us by a 15-year-old boy. Did he have flowers to bring his mommy?
MEMO: Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.