Grace Notes May 4, 2010

I came across a man the other day who cut my heart to the quick. He was
removing the flower buds from his peony bushes! Snip, snip, snip he went,
and with each snip my heart broke. I couldn’t help but ask if he didn’t
like them or something, and he answered they get too heavy and fall on the
ground. At first I thought he was cutting off every single round ball of
promise, but I saw today he had left a few on the very top.

Growing roses I have learned you prune smaller, weaker buds so the plant
gives its energy to the ones remaining, producing larger blooms. But I
don’t think that’s the way peonies work (tell me if I’m wrong!).

Maybe it will help you understand my distraught if I tell you what
memories peonies evoke for me. When I was a very young girl, we spent
Mother’s Day and Memorial Day at my Great-Grandma’s, Great-Aunt’s, or
Grandma’s home, and each of their yards sported a wild profusion of
beautiful, fragrant peony bushes heavy with bloom. Family photos were
taken among the peonies and huge bouquets graced the tables in and out.
Those slides and movies are part of my core memories of these kind,
flower-loving women who barely graced my childhood before they were gone.

I haven’t been able to get the picture of the man snipping off peony buds
out of my mind. It reminded me of a day when our young sons came to show
us the new “balls” the neighbor boy had discovered…..our peony buds!!! We
were cheated out of any blooms that year, and that’s how I felt as I
watched the man the other day.

Then I got to thinking how children and youth are like peony buds. We
can’t wait to see them bloom and develop to their full potential, but
sometimes they and we are cheated. Sometimes they try to grow in very
unfriendly places and they don’t get the nutrients they need. Sometimes
others crowd them out, and sometimes they aren’t noticed or appreciated at
all. Sometimes they are damaged by the choices or actions of those who
care for them. Sometimes they are cut down by disease or carelessness, and
sometimes they are left in the dark.

This weekend at Salem we mark Mother’s Day and honor Graduates. While we
know no mother is perfect and many carry their own wounds, we hope and
pray mothers everywhere help their children bloom. Graduates carry hearts
full of hope and promise and perhaps a little fear…their own and those of
all who have helped to shape and guide them. They are tender buds opening
to a sometimes cruel and ugly world. Let us give thanks for their beauty
and fragrance and help them bloom profusely and heavily to bless all who
pass by, becoming all that God has planned them to be.

Carla Vanatta, Associate in Ministry
Salem Lutheran Church, Sycamore, IL

This weekend at Salem:

Salem Softball Team Games Friday, May 7th, 6:30 p.m.: Blue Team at
Sycamore Park Field No. 10, Orange Team at Cortland Lions Park. Come and
route for your teams!

Worship 5:00 Saturday, 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 8th and 9th.

Salem Graduates will be honored at the 9:15 a.m. Hospitality Hour this
Sunday and at 10:30 worship; sponsors – Salem Youth and Family Ministry
Team.

Blood Pressures will be taken in the church office after each service this
weekend for those interested.

Spark Bible Fundraiser: help place Spark NRSV Bibles in Salem Sunday
School Classrooms this fall, $15 each.