A Wreath of Lilacs ================== m. Bob Sorem, 2004 w. Dianne Gauger, 2004 refrain: Bob Sorem, 2004 [Intro] [Narrative-spoken] It was one of those days when the calendar proclaimed winter over, but a glimpse outside confirmed that spring had not quite begun. I had not been to see my friend in the nursing home for a few weeks. The first thing I noticed upon entering her room was that Christmas and winter decorations had been replaced by beautiful spring ones. Among these was a wreath of lilacs on the wall above her bed. As I stood at her bedside, she smiled and turned her head slightly toward me -- the only movements her illness allowed. I returned her smile and said, "I see your sister has been here and decorated your room for spring." She replied that her sister had talked about it, but she had not been aware that the change had been accomplished. You see, my friend is blind. I told her about the wreath, describing the birch branches, the green leaves, the small white flowers intertwined with the dark purple and lavender lilacs. I remarked that although the day was gloomy, it was wonderful to see this sweet reminder that the lovely days of spring were near. She thanked me, and recalled a time when she and her sister were children, walking along a path. They could see the lilacs sway in the breeze, feel their softness when held against their faces. "I know," she said, "I can look forward to the day when I can again walk, see the flowers, pick them, and feel them once more." The world would say she has so little, yet she has so very much. I thanked her for her friendship, and for the reminder that even on such a gloomy, late winter day, we can choose to ... "see our flowers." [Bridge] [Verse 1] In all the circumstances of our ev'ry day, May we recognize those "flow'rs" in each our own way. In the midst of hardship, in any time of gloom God sends to us His flow'rs in all their glorious bloom. [Refrain] A wreath of lilacs for your heart and mine; To please the senses and to cheer the soul. To sight and smell a feast most divine; O may they bless us each and make us whole. [Interlude] [Verse 2] And if we're not near to look at them, we can see them in our mind, For their beauty in our mem'ry is always the very best kind. As these are the flow'rs that will never fade away, They're with us in ev'ry trial, ev'ry season, ev'ry day. [Refrain] [Coda] Amen, amen!