{"id":13966,"date":"2026-03-10T08:51:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T08:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/a-heaven-sent-bouquet-of-flowers\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T09:34:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T09:34:01","slug":"a-heaven-sent-bouquet-of-flowers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/angels-and-miracles\/angels\/a-heaven-sent-bouquet-of-flowers\/","title":{"rendered":"A Heaven-Sent Bouquet of Flowers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some people wouldn\u2019t be happy about having to work on Mother\u2019s Day<\/a> weekend, but I felt pretty lucky when I climbed into the florist delivery van on Saturday morning. My own mother was no longer alive to appreciate the flowers I always gave her on her special day, so brightening the day of other moms seemed like the best thing to do.<\/p>\n

I pulled out onto the road, enjoying the smell of the bouquets behind me. The scent took me back to my childhood, choosing blooms from my grandmother\u2019s garden to give to my mother. I could almost see Grandma\u2019s massive field of daffodils spread out before me. Or the purple and blue irises that grew on the slope down to the railroad track where the N&W picked up my conductor grandfather every day for work. And the bell-shaped lilies of the valley under the holly tree. My favorites were the hydrangeas surrounding the wraparound porch and the roses Grandma ordered specially from the Jackson & Perkins catalog. If love had a scent, I always thought, it would smell like roses and hydrangeas.<\/p>\n

Still pretty new at this job, I counted my blessings as I took in the fresh flower garden<\/a> I seemed to carry inside the van. I\u2019d spent most of my life working in the X-ray department of the VA hospital. After I retired, I missed the daily routine and the patients. I\u2019d always admired the arrangements in the window of Garrisons Designs, so when the shop advertised for a part-time driver I applied. I\u2019d become friends with the florists while we made small talk about our own favorite flowers. I admired the personal details they worked into each bouquet. Now I witnessed the joy brought by their handiwork.<\/p>\n

First up on my list of deliveries was a nursing home. Someone named Mary was getting a vase of pink roses from her children. I announced the recipient\u2019s name to the nurse on duty.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoses for Mary?\u201d the nurse said. \u201cRoom two twenty-four. Just set them by the window. It\u2019s a nice gesture, but sadly she won\u2019t know the flowers are there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carrying the vase down the hall, I remembered all those visits with my own mother in her last years. I always came bearing flowers and made sure to put them in view from her bed. Roses like these couldn\u2019t just be set on the windowsill and forgotten.<\/p>\n

\u201cHappy Mother\u2019s Day, Mary,\u201d I announced at the doorway of Room 224. \u201cYour children sent you these beautiful flowers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mary didn\u2019t respond. I brought the bouquet nearer so she could smell it and brushed a velvety petal against her cheek. I stepped back again to hold the vase in full view. Mary\u2019s eyes followed the flowers. \u201cYour daughter called to order these just for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

I had an idea. I set the roses down on the bedside tray and pulled out my cell phone. Mary\u2019s daughter lived out of state, but I had her number on my delivery list. I combed Mary\u2019s short gray hair into place and took a picture of this loved mother with her roses<\/a>. Was I imagining the hint of a smile on her face? I didn\u2019t think so. The flowers had done their work. \u201cJust look at your mama,\u201d I texted Mary\u2019s daughter. \u201cThe roses were a blessing.\u201d<\/p>\n

I was a little behind schedule by the time I got back to my van, but it was worth it. I had many other deliveries at nursing homes like Mary\u2019s. Carnations for Bonnie, daisies for Lucille, lilies for Maryanne. I took a lot of pictures, sent a lot of texts and shared a lot of joy.<\/p>\n

The sun was setting by the time I began my last delivery, a bright mix of tulips for the mother of a man named Billy who lived in Florida.<\/p>\n

That delivery took me down a winding road up a West Virginia hollow. I pulled up at an enchanting white cottage. Out front were two huge rhododendrons\u2014West Virginia\u2019s state flower. I\u2019d never seen rhododendrons grow like trees vibrant with silk purple blooms in May.<\/p>\n

Billy needs to see this<\/i>, I thought, whipping out my phone. I snapped a picture of his mom\u2019s cottage with the rhododendrons out front. I had a moment\u2019s hesitation after pressing SEND. Was I going too far? Billy\u2019s mother wasn\u2019t even in the picture. My phone pinged back instantly with an answer. \u201cThank you for bringing back my homeplace!\u201d Billy wrote. \u201cHow I miss my mother and those rhododendrons!\u201d Once again, the flowers had spread their joy.<\/p>\n

It was dark by the time I got back to the shop with the van. It felt empty without all those cheerful flowers in the back, and I was a little sorry my job was done. All that remained were a few scattered petals on the floor and an empty box tucked into the corner behind my seat. I swept out the petals, but when I went to toss the box, I saw a flash of pink. The box wasn\u2019t empty. I opened it fully to find flowers inside. An exquisite arrangement of pale pink roses and white hydrangeas. The familiar scent overwhelmed me, the most beautiful combination I knew.<\/p>\n

It had been a day full of love. But had I messed up? I felt around in the box for a card and checked over my list of deliveries again. No card, no address for these\u2014somebody was out there feeling forgotten!<\/p>\n

I rushed into the shop, the bell on the door tinkling. \u201cThese weren\u2019t on my list,\u201d I said as I set the box on the counter. \u201cRoses and hydrangeas! I\u2019m afraid someone\u2019s missed her flowers by mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo mistake, Rita,\u201d my coworker said. \u201cThose flowers are for you. Your friend Patrick wanted you to have some flowers of your own today, so of course we arranged your favorites.\u201d<\/p>\n

All day I\u2019d watched flowers bring joy to others, the same joy I\u2019d gathered for Mom from Grandma\u2019s garden. I couldn\u2019t wait to put my roses and hydrangeas in water. The love I\u2019d known since childhood<\/a>, that love I\u2019d shared all day, had come right back to me.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

For more angelic stories, subscribe to<\/span><\/em> Angels on Earth<\/strong><\/a> magazine.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some people wouldn\u2019t be happy about having to work on Mother\u2019s Day weekend, but I felt pretty lucky when I climbed into the florist delivery van on Saturday morning. 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