Have you heard the story about the husband who wanted to do something kind for his overwhelmed wife?

She was juggling difficult challenges at her full-time job.

She would come home after a long day at work and then juggle caring for their kids’ needs and the household needs.

Knowing that his wife loves flowers, he decided to buy her a huge bouquet of her favorite ones and put them on their dining room table for her to come home to the next evening.

He left work early, stopped by the florist on his way home from work, and excitedly left the beautiful bouquet he bought for his wife on their dining room table for her to come home to.

After another long day of putting out fires at work, his wife walked in the door.

She dropped her purse and headed straight for the washer knowing there was a load of laundry she needed to move to the dryer. She then went into the kids’ bedrooms to check on them. She listened to the stories of their day and told them she loves them.

She then headed down the hallway looking down as she unbuttoned her blouse heading in to take a shower.

Her husband watched all this happen and was sad that his wife never saw the flowers for her.

She came into their room, said hi to him and said she was exhausted and needed to get to sleep because she had to head to work earlier in the morning.

I heard this story this past Saturday at a Women’s Tea that I had been invited to.

I didn’t want to go.

My heart is sad at the loss of my dad.

Work has been incredibly busy.

I didn’t want to go.

As I listened to Emily Wilson, the speaker at the tea, tell this story and talk to us about taking moments to recognize God’s loving presence, I realized the Women’s Tea that I didn’t want to go to was a beautiful bouquet that God was giving me and I almost missed it.

As I sat and read this coming Sunday’s Gospel reading, this story came to my mind again.

…he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. John 10:4

Jesus uses the analogy of a shepherd leading his sheep and how the sheep recognize his voice. I learned that a shepherd cared for their sheep 24/7. A stranger could call and call the sheep, but they only followed the voice they knew, the one of their shepherd.

I am blessed by the reminder to recognize the blessings (bouquets) God gives me and not let grief blind me.

I am blessed by the reminder to keep so close to Jesus that I can recognize His voice in the busyness of my day.

Let’s look and listen the rest of this third week of Easter and be blessed.

Blessings of Easter bouquets from God!