“Give Me My Flowers”, a song performed by the late Reverend James Cleveland, has crossed my mind quite a bit lately. If you’ve never heard “Give Me My Flowers”, click here to listen.
“Give Me My Flowers” is an encouraging reminder for all of us to stop taking life and the existence of those whom we profess to care about and love for granted.
Give Me My FlowersWhile I Yet Live
So That I, I, I Can See The BeautyThat They Bring
Speak Kind Words To MeWhile I Can Hear Them
So That I, I, I Can Hear The ComfortThat They Bring
Friends And Loved OnesMay Give Me Flowers
When I’m Sick?Or On My Sick Bed
But I’d Rather HaveJust One Tulip Right Now
Than A Blanket Full Of RosesWhen I’m Dead
Give Me My FlowersWhile I Yet Live
So That I, I, I Can See The BeautyThat They Bring
Speak Kind Words To MeWhile I Can Hear Them
So That I, I, I Can Hear The ComfortThat They Bring
Did you know globally 151,600 people die each day, 6,316 people die each hour, 105 people die each minute, and nearly two people die each second? In the U.S. 7,196 people die each day, 300 people die each hour, and 5 people die each minute.
If you are wondering what is significant about these numbers, I’ll tell you. When you factor in the theory of Six Degrees of Separation, during the four minutes it takes you to read this post, several people who are connected to us will be dead.
It’s quite likely that many of the deceased will have wanted nothing other than for us to have lived out the words of “Give Me My Flowers”. They would have only wanted us to have given them their flowers while they yet lived and to have spoken kind words to them while they could hear them.
Don’t worry I’m not suggesting that you run out and buy everyone you profess to care about and love flowers. The truth is that flowers are merely a symbolic gesture – an outward expression, if you will, of your inner emotion.
What we all need and crave is human touch. Human touch helps everyone regardless of our stage in life. Infants to the elderly all want to feel connected, acknowledged, and valued. The entire species relies on human touch for survival and overall well-being.
Yet despite what scientist have known for years about the importance of human touch and how we are all wired for touch, we continue to reject our genetic predisposition for sensory perception. Instead, we have eliminated real-life human interactions and replaced human socialization with virtual reality. We have left many of those we care for isolated and feeling alone even when they are in the company of others.
Despite unlimited mobile plans, we text when hearing our voice is what the other party would prefer. When we text, we do not even bother to recognize the humanity of others with a warm greeting, instead, we callously demand their attention with extraneous information or a request that is only important to us. We send instant messages to our loved ones who are seated in the next room. Even our voicemail promises a prompt return phone call, but we routinely ignore our messages. And this is the way we treat those whom we profess great affection and adoration.
There is little wonder why our planet is becoming increasingly uncivil. We have removed H-U-M-A-N from humanity and modeled for our children behavior that takes the preciousness of life and the urgency of living in this very moment for granted.
If someone you cared about and/or loved, like your child, was living their last moments on this planet, wouldn’t you want to take this very moment to give them their flowers and speak kind words to them? Well based on the fragility of life perhaps you better stop what you are doing and give them their flowers and speak kind words to them right now.
In the unlikely event, you need a few ideas to express outwardly the love and appreciation you have for your children consider the following:
- Leave work on time so that you can give your child your undivided attention for the entire evening.
- Curl up on the couch, watch a movie of your child’s choosing, and hug them the entire time.
- Prepare a home cooked meal with the assistance of your child, set the table with formal place settings, and treat your child as if they were royalty.
- Get up early so that you can make them pancakes with a smiling face from scratch before school.
- Write them a letter expressing how much they mean to you and put it in their backpack.
- If your child doesn’t live in your home, video call or call them by phone for no reason other than to say “I love you!” (whatever you do please don’t text, or communicate through social media).
- Hug your child and tell them you love and appreciate them at least once a day if not every hour.
I’ll end where Reverend James Cleveland begins the recording. “If you feel like I deserve anything don’t wait till I’m dead and gone. If I’ve been nice to you or done something to make you happy along the way, then give me my few little flowers now so that I can see the view that they bring.”
Have you told your child or loved one how much you love them today? Has your child ever expressed that they feel alone even in the presence of others? Is there a friend or loved in need of human touch?
