Flowers

My son brought me flowers today. A red silk carnation and a yellow daisy made from strips of craft foam, both stuck into a styrofoam cup that had been colored brown and covered in glitter. He carried it like it was the Crown Jewels and carefully handed it to me when I picked him up from daycare. There was a card too, with his handprint inside and his childish signature. And a handprint card from Ellen, but she won't give it to me because she says that it is her paper.

I'm here to tell you, the Garden of Eden never grew flowers more lovely than the ones I got today. No artwork hanging in a gallery anywhere in the world is more precious than the handprint-on-construction-paper masterpieces I was given.

There are times when being a mother can wear you down physically, mentally, and emotionally. It is indeed the toughest job you'll ever love, and it is indeed a JOB. 24/7/365. But there also are flowers.