Why Not Smell the Roses?

When Kim and I were first married, for many years, I used to think buying her flowers was a waste of money.  After all, flowers die so quickly, particularly red roses, which she liked the most.  I never could understand why Kim wanted to be "surprised" with flowers of all things, particularly as she and I shared the belief that gifts of highest quality meant there would be something remaining after many years of time--like a ring, necklace, or watch perhaps--to reflect on and bring joyful memories to light.  Then one day, as I more and more began to turn my life more toward my wife than myself (trust me, I'm still inordinately selfish and self-absorbed with a very long way to go.  HA!), I began to get her what she wanted regardless.  If she wants red roses, red roses she gets.

Truth is there is something incredibly magical about roses, flowers in general, that speaks to the love they represent.  Flowers are something of incredible beauty and fragrance, and yet live for such an all too short time.  They are so fragile.  Just like us.  They make us smile.  They compel us to take care of them, to cherish them for as long as we are lucky enough to have them near us.  How lucky that we can care for them like we hopefully do one another.  We want them to last forever, but just like our loved ones, they in fact don't.  If we don't take care of them, they wilt and die much quicker than their potential.  Just like our relationships.  Flowers are symbolic of the love and compassion we know should be part of our lives' purpose, part of how we treat others, and yet how often do we consciously reflect on them, much less this?  So when she wants roses, why not take time to occasionally surprise her with some?  By the way, they are a gift for us as well, if we simply take notice.  Why not take time to really appreciate all that she and they bring?  Life is so fleeting.  Why not take time to smell the roses?