the innocence in a dandelion

yesterday they walked outside to give mister leon some time to roam.  it was just starting to sprinkle and the clouds overhead were rolling about rather nervously.  but there were dandelions growing in the mud nearby and the little girl was wearing blue shoes with a perfect bow settled right on top.  there was a light, if only small, shining on that unpromising afternoon.

she gently grazed the flower on her cheek, unaware that passerbys and gardeners find this particular variety to be a nasty fellow and a downright atrocity to freshly moved lawn.  she knew none of the negative connotations that fell in the dark shadow of this plant, just the simple beauty in its yellow hue.  

after a few seconds of lingering, she smelled it in deep, getting pollen dust on the tip of her nose.  a delicate smile reflected in her brownish grey eyes, for it was the first time she had ever smelled a flower.  her adoring mama watched this all transpire over a matter of mere minutes that slowly melted into what felt like lifetime of searching for happiness.  

children have a wonderful ability to teach us about the world.  they can open our tired eyes and show us god's grace in things we adults deem trivial or even feel strong dislike towards.  they seek good in all things and radiate peace when others can only conjure hate.  they are true artists and visionaries.  children are beacons of hope and messengers of joy. 

little did this sweet girl know that she was holding something sadly gauged as trite and meaningless by the masses of society around her.  others would teach her to appreciate more ornate things and disregard simple beauty in nature, and in all areas of life.   

to her, in this fleeting moment, a lone dandelion was magic.  

and to her mama, 

well,

those two minutes were more preciously beautiful than the most alluring bouquet of flowers one could ever imagine.