Flynn's Dandelions

My Flynn loves dandelions. Really loves them. She calls them her "Yellow Flowers". She waits all year for the few weeks they randomly pop up and adorn our yard. In the middle of winter, she stares out of the window at the deep snow and asks if her yellow flowers will come back. I promise her they will. And they always do.

Many people do not share this view with her, I know. Many people refer to these flowers as weeds. I know myself that before Flynn began to share her love of them with me, I also thought of them as a nuisance or a bother. But she has helped me see them in a new way. They are not something to be upset about or bothered by. They are something to anticipate and celebrate. These bright yellow flowers signal the beginning of a new season...a fresh new start at the end of a long, cold winter.

Dandelions remind me that we all have certain times in our lives...difficult or unpleasant times or situations...that pop up randomly and often excessively. We can choose to view these times as weeds...as ugly, problematic things that distract us and cause us stress. We can try as we might to rid ourselves of them, but like the dandelion, they always return. Or...we can choose to look at these times as beautiful, vibrant, yellow flowers. We can choose to see them not as difficult or stressful times, but rather as learning situations and chances to rely on our faith and hope for better times to follow.

I now rejoice with my daughter every spring when these bright yellow flowers pop up in our yard. I take off my shoes and run through them with her, thankful for the fact that no matter how long or how cold the winter is, they always return with the promise spring and a chance to begin again.


This past week, we spent some time outside with Flynn's beautiful dandelions, and my Madison snapped some photos so we could remember the joy on her face...

Don't forget to run through your dandelions, my friends!