St. Therese of Lisieux has described each human being as a unique flower in the garden of God. She had learned from her experiences as a child that each one of us is a uniquely existing flower that pleases God in the same unique way. She had learned that the diversity of the flowers makes the garden of God very beautiful.
I agree with St. Therese. Each one of us is a beautiful creation. The lilies, violets, roses and carnations of this earth pleases our Creator so much. Truly, He cares for us as a gardener waters the flowers of the garden everyday. He makes sure that we receive the sunlight we needed, and He protects us from the strong winds and heavy rains whenever they come.
However, putting aside the metaphorical side of this topic, one would ask, “How could I be a flower when I know that I am a sinner, and imperfect human being and a very unholy man? I cannot be a flower.” And yes, going to the reality of this world, it can be seen that there are too much bad things that are existing because of the wickedness of man: violence, poverty, etc. Because of this, the image of man as a flower in God’s garden seems to be out of reality, an illusion. But I could hear St. Therese brushing aside this idea and insisting that: “We are flowers of God! Beautiful flowers indeed!”
Many people give up in this world. Many people now are eaten up by the idea that they are too evil for God, too unholy to be loved by God and too little to be noticed by God. They use these lies as a veil to hide themselves from God’s mercy and love in order to go in the easy way that this world offers: money, addiction, sex, relationships, etc. They refuse to find life in God and chooses to find life in the ever rotting foundations anything in the world can offer.
They fail to notice that the veil they are wearing is a veil of lies. Upon comparing themselves to others who are “more” kind and “more” holy than they are, they have created a strong veil to cover their eyes and minds to what the truth really is. They have started to compare the incomparable beauty of a lily to a daisy. This is dangerous, because it might lead to death.
The gardener takes care most of those flowers that are weakening. He pays more attention to those flowers that needs more sunshine, more watering and more protection. The gardener knows each and every one of his flowers and he knows which needs what. However, he notices that the more He showers life to a withering flower, the more the flower resists. The flower has veiled itself from the graces of love and mercy which the Caretaker gives him. The flower fails to recognize that never has the Gardener abandoned him. He refuses to accept that the Gardener stayed and wanted to give him what he needed to stay alive.
If this continues, the flower will eventually die. The faithful gardener will weep, and bury the flower under the earth, never to be seen by Him again. Many flowers had shared the same fate because they veiled their petals and roots from the life that the Gardener showers them.
But then there is hope! The gardener has become a flower also. He did that in order to communicate well to the flowers the real love that the Gardener has for each of the flower. No amount of sin or rottenness could separate the flowers from the love of the Gardener. The more the flower is weakened, the more the Gardener is there to sustain the flower!
The Gardener who became a flower is Jesus. He helps us to take off the veil of lies that keeps us from recognizing the love of God. He brings us to the waters of life that only He Himself, God, could give. Through Him, through the truth of God’s love, we are made worthy and made ever beautiful in the Garden of Heaven that is God’s. This is a garden full of flowers that give pleasure and delight to the loving Gardener–God.