By Donald S. Conkey – Tribune columnist Dick Yarbrough, in a recent column, quoted his successful friend Benjamin Porter several times regarding taking time in mortality to “smell the roses” and to spend time while still in mortality with family and friends. The quote that touched me was “Smell the roses, and that’s not just a flip phrase, and tell your family and friends that you love them while you are still here. You’ll both enjoy the experience. I’ll tell you this: I’d rather see and smell one sweet bouquet while I’m here (still living) than have a truckload follow me to the cemetery.” Yarbrough’s friend recently died.
Nearing 83, I understand and fully appreciate Ben Porter’s counsel. It’s good counsel for men and women of all ages. Mr. Porter strongly implied he had at times kind of ignored God’s rules for living he had learned from his parents as a child. He is not alone – many still do. And that is a shame. What would we be without family? Alone and very lonely! Many attain riches and worldly honors but die lonely. That too is a shame! It doesn’t have to be that way – people can be both happy and successful. Many are.
I was reminded of my mortality last week while watched the leaves fall to the ground. The falling leaves reminded me of my circle of life – my spring of life, birth; my summer of life, working; my fall of life, enjoying the fruits of my labor; my winter of life, returning my body to the earth and allowing my eternal spirit to return from whence it came.
When does one ‘smell the roses?’ recently, following a gentle rain, Joan and I drove to Canton while the leaves were at the zenith of their colorful fall beauty. We both exclaimed their splendor as we inhaled this gorgeousness with our eyes and let it uplift our spirits in our twilight years of life.
How often mankind ignores God’s abundant gifts of beauty, given for all to enjoy. We are told beauty is in the eye of the beholder so we need to take the time to ‘behold’ that beauty. Springtime, with all its colorful loveliness, provides hope and reminds us there is life after winter (death), a strong reminder that our spirit body is eternal; summer reminds us there is no beauty without work and labor; fall, with its vibrant beauty, reminds us that we are mortal, that there can be beauty in our lives even as we prepare for the winter of our lives when our mortal body returns to the earth from which it came; even winter, with the trees standing like skeletons, bare of their leaves, is a reminder that we too, aged as we are, were and still are clothed with the true and everlasting beauty of all life –family – children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Like the leaves on the trees each member of our family is unique with its own talents and gifts to bring joy and happiness into our lives – and to lift our spirits as we prepare to leave them for a season.
Looking back we see our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren following in our footsteps and more fully appreciate the importance of teaching them correct principles so they can learn to govern themselves in our ever changing world – in accordance with God’s eternal laws. This circle of life rounds out and becomes more meaningful when we realize that the true joy of life comes not from our riches or our ‘things,’ but from our family and values that focus on the real purposes of life.
The rose’s aroma will be different for each individual. I sniff them whenever I think back to the special events in my life: my marriage, births of children, marriages of children, births of grandchildren, performing marriages for grandchildren, births and blessings of great grandchildren, children and grandchildren choosing to serve church missions, and our church mission in Canada. Note: no mention of career achievements?
Today I ‘smell the roses” when inhaling the grandeur of God’s creations that surround me year-round: spring flowers, gentle summer rains, harvesting the garden, watching nature’s beauty through the kitchen window in our own backyard, a great grandchild’s note that says “I love you” now posted on the fridge, family gatherings for holidays and other special family events, and visiting with family on Skype, among many others.
Yarbrough’s friend was right – mortality is meant for ‘smelling the roses’ – and enjoying family.