War of the roses · Grow with Gratitude Community

War of the roses

Hello Gratitude community! I read a statistic and out Valentine’s Day yesterday that surprised me. 20% of women buy themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day. Sure, some buy them to treat themselves but that is a staggering number! So, I wrote 12 cards, bought a bouquet of roses and split them up into single roses today. My kids and I walked through the parking lot at the grocery story and handed out a flower and a card to every person we saw until we ran out. The reactions were shocking. Most were surprised and so grateful. A couple teared up. My poor son approached a woman alone.. I would guess her to be in mid sixties. He offered her the card and the rose and she was shocked and told him very harshly, “No thank you.” My son persisted. He offered it again and said Happy Valentine’s Day. I am just spreading kindness. She again, put her hand up and forcefully said, “No thank you. I don’t want it and I don’t have anything.” My son tried one last time. He was giving this woman this rose. Tenacity is one of his attributes. He looked at her with his huge puss and boots eyes and politely said, “Ma’am, I am not trying to ask you for anything. My mom and I have been giving out roses to random strangers just to tell them that they deserve something beautiful because they are beautiful. Please take my rose. If you want to throw it away when you drive away that is okay. I am hoping it makes you feel good and it brightens your day.” Half into her car at this point she looked right at him with tears in her eyes and said, “No one has ever given me a rose for no reason. I’m so sorry I reacted badly. Thank you so very much. You made my day.” She wrapped her arms around my son and hugged him in thanks. If you could have seen how stiff he hugged her back you would have laughed. He can be back to me and said he was grateful he did it and that it is sad no one had ever given her a flower. She really needed it. Then he politely declined to talk to any more strangers today. It is easy to be grateful for the people right in front of us every day. To thank a stranger creates a huge ripple of kindness. Hopefully my son’s memory fades before I make him do it again next year! The note

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