Sunday 17 September 2023

Bob's Yellow Roses

Aren't these beautiful? In the Victorian "Language of Flowers" They stand for friendship, affection and joy
One morning this week, the phone rang. My very distressed friend was on the line, and asked for Bob. I said he was out, but would be back shortly, could I take a message?
She had a problem - a practical issue, and she could not think who to call for help but she reckoned Bob might be the person.
She explained and I said I was sure he could help. We talked about the details - and then he returned. In his amazing calm way, he reassured her, said a prayer for her over the phone, then went outside to assemble the tools needed for the task. We went to her home together to get it done. 
It was a relatively small thing, but there were other big things causing the distress, and this was one problem too many.
I was so humbled by his gracious friendship, the words he said, and the way he dropped everything to sort it all out. Not rushed or slapdash, but properly, with care and thoughtfulness. No mention of his abandoned afternoon plans [trivial in comparison] and on the way home he suggested we got fish and chips to save having to cook!
The next day I had to call in at the village shop, and I saw the roses on the counter. I bought them and took them home. "These are for you, because you are such a good friend and you brought a little joy to someone in great distress, and I was so proud of you yesterday" I said. 
Bob suggested we put them in our [lovely, new, fresh, tidy] bedroom, where we could both enjoy them. A good idea - they have brightened our mornings, a beautiful sight to wake up to.
Why don't men get given flowers more often? 
 

 

24 comments:

  1. My late husband always used to get me yellow roses as he knew they were my favourite, it all started when we first started going out and he asked me what my favourite flower was and after that he used to get me a single yellow rose every week. Heather

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    1. How romantic. I know that the late Michael Williams, husband of Judi Dench used to send her red roses every Friday - even when they were separated by their acting commitments

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  2. That was a very loving thing to do, Angela, to get those lovely roses for Bob in appreciation of how he helps others. I wouldn't have thought to do something like that!

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    1. I saw them and just knew |I should get them!

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  3. How lovely - Bob, the roses and you for giving them. Sue H

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  4. Men should really get more flowers,especially as they often grow them! Such a lovely tribute for a lovely man from a lovely woman.

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    1. Often they only get them when they are ill, never as a token of love πŸ’›

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  5. Wouldn't it be lovely to have more Pastor Bob's in the world? What a lovely human being he is.

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    1. Personally I think so - his kindness and infinite patience are great qualities. I guess this is one reason why he ended up in pastoral work

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  6. How cheering to read this lovely story on a grey rainy day,

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  7. I love a yellow rose. Kindness is a precious thing and definitely deserves reward
    Alison in Wales x

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  8. How very kind of Bob and you, and the flowers are lovely.

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  9. It was so good of you both to minister to your friend in this way. It is so easy to resent calls on our time as a nuisance, but you both put love into action so readily. A bouquet for you both was definitely in order. Nicky K

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  10. I'm sure that Bob already felt rewarded by being able to help someone in a stressful situation, but how lovely to affirm him with your gift of roses!

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