The Rose Talked Back
“The man sweeping the synagogue paused for a moment. He looked at the flowers lying about in disorder. ‘What waste!’ he said to himself. Those roses had adorned the pulpit at wedding an hour before. Now all was over and they were waiting to be discarded.
The attendant leaning on his sweeper was lost in thought when suddenly he heard a strange sound. One of the roses replied to him.
‘Do you call this a waste?’ the flower protested. ‘What is life anyway, yours or mine, but a means of service? My mission was to create some fragrance and beauty, and when I have fulfilled it my life has not been wasted. And what greater privilege is there than to adorn a bird’s way to her beloved, what greater privilege than to help glory the moment when a bride and groom seal their faith in each other by entering the covenant of marriage?’
Our little flower paused for a moment to watch the man’s face, and then continued her discourse.
‘Roses are like people. They live in deeds, not in time. My glory was but for a brief hour, but you should have seen the joy in the bird’s yes. I like to believe that I had something to do with it, by creating a suitable setting for the moment of her supreme happiness. So don’t grieve for me. My life has been worthwhile.’
Having spoken her little piece, the rose was once more silent. The attendant, startled from his reverie and a littler wiser, pushed the sweeper again and continued with his work.”
~ Ben Zion Bokser ~
