Flowers for the Dead
Wading through the sea of people buying flowers for the dead, I'm struck by the oddity. Life revolves around the needs and wants of other people. We spend our lives trying to meet our own needs, trying to satisfy our desires, and often using other people to do so. Sometimes we spend our lives trying to meet the needs of others, or satisfy their desires. And when they die, we buy flowers in memory of their death.
I don't want flowers in death. I think flowers are beautiful. I think they bring happiness to certain people. However, what would be the purpose of putting them on my grave? I'm not there to enjoy them. I've spent most of my life trying to give what I could give to people to make their lives better. I've focused on helping others to an extent that has sometimes hurt me a great deal. Memorial day is the day we have chosen to honor the dead. What does that have to do with flowers? Wouldn't it be more honor to my memory when I am gone to do something for someone else in respect for what I have done with my life?
Pick someone who is having a hard time and buy them a week's worth of groceries. Find someone who can't pay the phone bill this month and pay it for them. Go to a nursing home, and sit with the people who never get visitors. Buy fresh flowers for someone who is depressed and sit and listen to them talk for a while. Give me a memorial I would appreciate.
I know that if my grandmother were alive... either one, really, they would both tell me to put the money that I would be spending on the flowers toward the bills that I need to pay to have a better life. Instead of decorating my niece's grave, I buy presents for living children.
Remember my life, not my death. Remember that I gave to other people when I had nothing. Remember that I would not have wanted you to go without when I had something I could give. Put the money in a college fund for children who would not be able to go. Maybe if enough of you get together you can arrange for someone to go who wouldn't be able to without you.
Just don't buy flowers for the dead.
Wading through the sea of people buying flowers for the dead, I'm struck by the oddity. Life revolves around the needs and wants of other people. We spend our lives trying to meet our own needs, trying to satisfy our desires, and often using other people to do so. Sometimes we spend our lives trying to meet the needs of others, or satisfy their desires. And when they die, we buy flowers in memory of their death.
I don't want flowers in death. I think flowers are beautiful. I think they bring happiness to certain people. However, what would be the purpose of putting them on my grave? I'm not there to enjoy them. I've spent most of my life trying to give what I could give to people to make their lives better. I've focused on helping others to an extent that has sometimes hurt me a great deal. Memorial day is the day we have chosen to honor the dead. What does that have to do with flowers? Wouldn't it be more honor to my memory when I am gone to do something for someone else in respect for what I have done with my life?
Pick someone who is having a hard time and buy them a week's worth of groceries. Find someone who can't pay the phone bill this month and pay it for them. Go to a nursing home, and sit with the people who never get visitors. Buy fresh flowers for someone who is depressed and sit and listen to them talk for a while. Give me a memorial I would appreciate.
I know that if my grandmother were alive... either one, really, they would both tell me to put the money that I would be spending on the flowers toward the bills that I need to pay to have a better life. Instead of decorating my niece's grave, I buy presents for living children.
Remember my life, not my death. Remember that I gave to other people when I had nothing. Remember that I would not have wanted you to go without when I had something I could give. Put the money in a college fund for children who would not be able to go. Maybe if enough of you get together you can arrange for someone to go who wouldn't be able to without you.
Just don't buy flowers for the dead.
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