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How to Not Give Useless Flowers

“And the wife see that she reverence her husband…”



“See that you finish your math…”


“See that you don’t forget dog food…”


“See that you turn off the stove before you leave…”


“See that you reverence your husband.”


Given in the same tone as countless other important reminders, I know that it must be important to reverence my husband simply because God said to do it.


But how do I do that?


I was thinking about this just now while I folded my husband’s shirts. Something flitted through my mind when I saw the powerful message on one of the t-shirts, and I imagined if he had passed away, the things we would say about him.


“He was so fearless to stand for what was right.”


“He was hilarious.”


“He was such a kind daddy.”


And on and on.


And it struck me. The things we say about a person after they died? The way we glide over the negative and magnify the person’s strengths? That’s the idea.


To reverence my husband, I must focus now on the things I will miss when he’s gone.


Like the old song, “Give Me Roses While I Live”:


Wonderful things of folks are said

When they have passed away

Roses adorn the narrow bed

Over the sleeping clay

Give me the roses while I live

Trying to cheer me on

Useless the flowers that we give

After the soul is gone


Praises are heard not by the dead

Roses they can not see

Let us not wait til souls have fled

Generous friends to be

Give me the roses while I live

Trying to cheer me on

Useless the flowers that we give

After the soul is gone


Faults are forgiven when they lie

Cold in their narrow bed

Let us forgive them before they die

Now should the words be said

Give me the roses while I live

Trying to cheer me on

Useless the flowers that we give

After the soul is gone

After the soul is gone


Song Written by: JAMES ROWE, R.H. CORNELIUS

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group





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