Children are precious, especially when they’re still in the innocent stage of seeing every colorful bloom as a beautiful flower.  For a few years, those plants we invest hours and paychecks in eliminating, known to us as weeds, are bright perky flowers the color of sunshine, a wonderful way to express love.  Best of all, they’re free for the picking! Yes, my mother joyfully received many dandelion bouquets, and she put them in whatever cup or vase she could find for the hours they would last.

When we grow up, we look back and laugh at those offerings, and we (ok, some of us) try to do better, in keeping with bigger incomes.  Between Mom and I, I’ve become partial to a tea rose that goes from cream/peach at the base to pink on the petal edges.  We know it when we see it, but it escapes accurate definition.  Others I’ve met prefer daisies, orchids, or any of the other varieties florists keep in stock.  Florists have yet to offer dandelions.

My friend and I were talking one day of how she has become desensitized to certain flowers.  They were presented, you see, by men who were being manipulative and hiding their true intentions (and/or tally of current girlfriends).

There’s a metaphor here that goes beyond flora & fauna.  Most of us would rather get a simple and sincere anything – compliment, note, smile – than the most practiced and cultured (and expensive) display of false affections.  An honest dandelion is worth more than an exotic floral arrangement.  Jesus said the same as He took note of a Pharisee and a Tax Collector praying at the temple.

This isn’t to let you fellas off the hook if you really mean to express yourself with fine flowers.  It’s just an answer for why your half-a-paycheck bouquet may find itself on the same shelf with a dixie cup of dandelions.