GOD OF LOVE & JOURNEY OF LIFE
In the tranquil winter stillness, as nature slumbered, I felt a gentle breeze awaken me. Covered in glistening dew, I gleamed like a jewel, captivated by nature’s pure beauty, embracing this enchanting world.
I was surprised that I have born to this world filled with immense happiness. I observed the beauty around me: butterflies fluttering in the air, birds chirping their sweet songs, squirrels frolicking around, and children giggling with joy. When I was just a bud, I had asked God for the opportunity to see this wonderful world, even if only for a day. And now, my prayer had been answered.
As the sun rose, I looked up at my love, the Sun, whose radiant, crimson face greeted me. My mother Plant had always taught me that her life depended on him, that he was present in her every breath, nourishment, and essence. I expressed my gratitude to him for the wonderful gift of life and asked him to show me the beauty of existence.
My mother said: “Your life is precious, even though it is momentary. Don’t wait for tomorrow to find meaning. Embrace the present, as darkness will never touch you on this life journey.”
With her words resonating in my heart, I cherished every moment of my short and one-day life. I learned that the true essence of life is not in its length, but in the depth of each experience. The laughter of children, the flutter of butterfly wings, and the warmth of the morning sun—all these simple joys filled my one day with immense richness but only once for few moments.
In this brief existence, I realized that the meaning of life is found in the meaningful moments that shape our journey. As the day came to an end, I was grateful for the understanding that I had lived a fulfilling life
On those days, my caring Mom reminded me, “You are a growing bud. Listen to the sound of God, feel the warmth of Him and pray to Him wishing to be one on His feet when you bloom as a flower.”
I am excited that Today is my great day. I sense my reason for birth and its existence, and the beautiful nature. Now I am a fully bloomed flower, opened my sensorial feels happy to see the world. I bow before you, my God, please bless me to be at your feet of love and permit me to rest forever.
I bow before the divine, offering my humble gratitude. “Oh my Lord, please bless me with Your love and grant me the peace to rest forever at Your feet,” I pray, filled with reverence.
She shares her happiness with the cool breeze, which caresses her with a gentle touch, whispering, “Welcome to this world of beauty, my little flower.” She watches him move away with a graceful smile, spreading his blessings to every part of nature with his soft and cool touch. As he passes by, the dewdrops adorning her fall to the earth and disappear, leaving her with a sense of magical freshness when the Sun’s warm rays embrace her.
She looks through a spider’s web covered in dew, hoping to catch a glimpse of her father’s glorious face. The web reflects a rainbow of colors, showcasing the wonders of life. Suddenly, she hears the buzzing of a mysterious insect approaching. Being new to the world, she is intrigued by the unfamiliar visitor.
Despite his unassuming appearance, she is fascinated by his ability to soar through the air. She interprets his buzzing as a beckoning call. When he alights on a nearby branch, she studies him closely, noting his dark eyes, numerous legs, and delicate wings. With a warm smile, she turns to face him, her eyes wide with curiosity, eager to discover more about this enigmatic being.
In this brief yet profound encounter, the little flower realizes that every moment, every interaction, and every experience carries a deeper significance. She comprehends that the true essence of life is found in the connections we forge and the beauty we uncover in each passing moment.
As the breeze returned, the flower inquired, “Who is that dark creature? I don’t think it’s friendly.”
The breeze, wearing a gentle smile, responded, “Hush, my dear flower, and be grateful to God for not catching its attention. If it notices you and identifies you as a fresh bloom, it will surely come closer.”
“It’s a wild Honey bee,” the breeze added, “who will feign friendship only to harm you. If that happens, you may not achieve your life’s purpose.”
The breeze went on, “See, my little flower, you’ve just blossomed. This world isn’t as rosy as it seems. It’s fraught with dangers and deceptions. I am a breeze sent by God to comfort all living beings here. I traverse all realms and am privy to life’s mysteries and the veils of malevolence. The plants, trees, birds, and animals are my companions. I lend an ear to each of them, partake in their joys and sorrows, and witness their cycles of day and night.”
The breeze paused briefly before bidding her farewell with a smile. She observed as he moved around, interacting with everyone, offering comfort to those in need, and spreading joy. She noticed that he left behind positive messages wherever he went. She marveled at his greatness and wondered if he could be a divine messenger. She realized that he was present in all aspects of life, in both good and bad times, day and night. She mused about whether he represented Time, Life, or perhaps both. Lost in contemplation of the breeze’s mysteries, she momentarily forgot about the lurking danger.
Her mother continued to remind her to pray to God, cautioning her about the fly that ruins the flowers of every plant. She feared that the Honey bee would also harm her little flower. With trepidation and folded petals, she prayed, “Almighty, bestow all blessings upon my little flower. Oh, my God, you know her greatest desire is to be at your feet. Please grant her the ability to achieve it. This is my sincere prayer.”
As the temple bell chimed once more, the flower opened her petals, observing children hurrying to school and adults making their way to the worship place. She pondered, “How can I reach God’s feet?”
A few women came to the garden and picked flowers from the plants nearby. They took some of the flowers to the God. Feeling abandoned by those devotees, she was disappointed and weeping. She blamed God for not choosing her and wondered why she hadn’t been picked. “Mother, why have they not chosen me? I am eager to be at God’s feet, but I am unable to. I now despise myself, thinking I am an unlucky flower. Even though I have offered my innocent prayers to Him with my fragrance of love, He seems not to understand my faith.”
Mother comforted her, saying, “Listen, my child, who told you that you are unlucky? I am sure God sees your tears. Stop worrying and do not lose faith in God. Opportunities will come to you again but you should have patience to wait till it comes to you. Remember, a flower’s life is a blessed one. I, too, was once a flower, but I was not fortunate enough to be at God’s feet. I am trying to resolve my lost ambitions through my children like you, and I am sure our aspirations will be fulfilled one day or the other. That is why I urge you to offer sincere prayers. Only a flower can truly sense and experience God’s presence. Your fragrance is your unique quality and a blessing. However, sometimes our blessings can feel like curse as well. Be persistent, my child. Your time will come. The longer you wait, the greater the goodness that will come to you.”
Unexpectedly, a dark bee approached the little flower with vigor. The strong wind angrily blew as if he tried to stop the attempt of the bee to hurt the flower. The mother plant moved her branches to shield her, but destiny had different intentions. Tears surged up in the mother’s eyes as she watched the bee circle around her little one. However, the flower showed no fear and innocently asked, “Who are you, little creature? What do you want from me?”
Attracted by her innocent smile, the bee responded, “I am a Honey bee that visits all the flowers in the world. We play a crucial role in your survival for generations. Little beauty, I was drawn to your beautiful color and enchanting fragrance. May I have a small place in your heart with your permission?”
Despite her mother’s warnings about the bee being harmful, she, believing the Honey bee to be harmless, chose to ignore them. Her innocence led her to trust the Honey bee and they formed a friendship. She disregarded the cautionary words from her mother and the breeze.
The Honey bee shared stories, sang beautiful songs, and convinced the flower that he was the best companion she could have. She found joy in this new friendship, dismissing her mother and the breeze as deceivers. She convinced herself that the Honey bee was a kind mate, a great companion who can fly, sing songs, tell stories etc. In her happiness, she forgot about her mother, her ambition, her prayers and dreams, believing life would be dull without the companionship of the Honey bee.
Filled with joy, in return, she shared her precious gifts with the Honey bee, delighting him with her fragrance and offering him her most valuable honey, adorning his legs with her love Praising her, the Honey bee said, “Oh my dear friend, I cannot survive without your fragrance. Your honey is the most precious gift in the world.” These words brought happiness and pride to her, convinced that she had found a special friend who could fly, sing, and dance, surpassing her in many ways.
As the sun made its journey from east to west, the little flower noticed the absence of dewdrops and the disappearance of the coolness with the breeze. Fatigue set in, and she expressed to her friend, “You are now my soul, my friend. I am grateful to the women who spared me this morning, allowing us to meet. Your presence is a blessing from God. I wish this day would never end so we could remain together.”
Upon hearing these words, the mother plant shed tears, comforted by the breeze. Butterflies playfully teased the little flower, hinting that a lesson was on the horizon.
Suddenly, more women entered the garden, plucking flowers. The Honey bee quickly flew away upon spotting them. The little flower felt unsettled by the presence of people, setting aside her aspiration to be near God. The women carefully selected flowers for the temple, ensuring they were in perfect condition.
The mother plant advised her to pray to be chosen by the women who would offer the flowers to God. However, she disregarded her mother’s plea, preoccupied with thoughts of the Honey bee. As the women approached, she prayed to God to avoid being plucked, desiring to remain with her companion. Her wish was granted as the women found her to be spoiled petals.
Overhearing their conversation, she learned that her vibrant color and fragrance would have been fitting for adorning the idol of God, but the Honey bee had tainted her. The women decided not to take her, plucking all the other flowers instead. The mother plant grieved, believing that her journey to God’s feet would have been a blessing. Now, all hopes were dashed, deeming the little flower unfortunate.
As the day progressed she realized the Honey bee’s deception. He had enjoyed her essence and then departed. Tears streamed down her face as she acknowledged her foolishness. Remembering the breeze’s warning about her fleeting existence, she pleaded for forgiveness from God, but it was too late. The scorching sun signaled her impending demise. The mother plant could do nothing to save her, losing all hope. The garden fell silent as the breeze, butterflies, birds, and squirrels vanished.
She wept and prayed earnestly for forgiveness, aware that she would not see another evening. Finally, she implored God for…
Upon heeding her mother’s guidance, she ceased her tears and began to fervently pray to God for an opportunity to serve Him.
She pleaded with God for forgiveness, but it was too late. Exhausted and alone, she prayed, “My Lord, this may be my final prayer. I acknowledge my mistakes, blinded by the illusions of this world. Please forgive me, for I did not heed my mother’s advice or the wisdom of the breeze.”
Weary and weak, she couldn’t lift her head. She whispered to her mother, “Forgive me, Mother. I couldn’t fulfill your dream. I was misled by the Honey bee.” Her mother comforted her, “My child, you are the last flower. Every plant desires its final flower to be at God’s feet, but I don’t blame you. You were misled. A mother never curses her child. I pray for you, always help you to support…Don’t lose hope. God will bless you.”
The little flower was at grief, but followed her mother’s guidance, continued praying, “Oh God, please forgive me and guide me.” As dawn fell, a child noticed Marie and called other children to admire her beauty. A young girl on her way to the shrine picked her and placed her in her hair. She felt sorrowful to leave her mother but found comfort in the breeze’s message, “Dear, you are fortunate to witness God. This girl is going to the holy place. Be content with what you achieve.”
She enjoyed the journey until the girl’s hair got caught in a jasmine vine near the temple well. As the girl struggled, the flower fell to the ground. The girl continued on, leaving the little flower behind. Recalling her mother’s blessing, she accepted her destiny, praying for another flower to fulfill her mother’s dream.
Unexpectedly a priest discovered her lying on the ground, picked her up…. admired her beauty, and placed her in a flower pot. Tending to the seeds of the little flower daily, hundreds of plants blossomed, adorning the idol of God. The breeze returned, saying, “Dear, your prayers were not in vain. You have brought hundreds of Plants with your seeds and now all of your little ones will decorate the idol of God every day…..Your story is a lesson for everyone in the world. Your innocent prayers and strong love towards your ambition with your mother’s blessings brought you here in this holy place. You reached the place of worship, and hence God blessed your descendants.”
From that moment on, her descendants graced the feet of God, fulfilling her mother’s dream and her own.
Dr. Sreedhar Saraswathy