There was a sale at the nursey
I was told.
I was after just one kind.
They are not hard to find.
The colors danced in my vision.
I could picture the blooms all bright
and vivid Pansy illusions.
I was fast on my way,
but to my dismay,
I soon found that they were all sold.

Head hung down in sorrow.
I walked out the door,
as "I asked you sure there is no more?"
My vision of baskets and garden
full of blooms was
left wilted.
I went on my way home
very much jilted.

I stopped at the park to clear my head.
There was an old woman up ahead.
Not feeling very friendly at the moment,
I wanted to avoid her.
Please let her move from
the corner where I need to
go I silently prayed.

But God was not listening I thought.
I didnt know what was worse,
her apperance or my feelings.
Her skin was dirty and ugly just
like my thoughts.
I wanted nothing to do with her.
But God had a plan that he prefer.

Her voice was low and creaked.
Why I heard better from a mouse squeak.
Please dont let her talk to me
I silently prayed.
I wanted nothing more to be left alone
with dreams of my flowerbed.

"Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder"
she said.
Just like she could see the thoughts
running threw my head.
My face turned red.
I didnt want her to know
what I was feeling let alone thinking.

"Have a beautiful day". She said.
Same to you I whispered.
"Take these" she said next,
as she handed me a packet.
"Ok I said softly" as I put it
the pocket of my jacket.

"Well are you not going to see
what I handed you?" , she demanded.
"You will be surprised", she claimed.
Why did she pick me I thought
as I opened my hand to see
a packet of seed.
I just knew it was trash indeed.

She spoke as I stood there with my
head held in shame. She whispered,
their name. "Pansies, I do believe
is your favorite flower to be."
My eyes filled with bittersweet tears.
She was no where to be found,
she just disappeared.
"Please come back I cried".
She was gone just as I feared.

How can I ever thank her I thought
as I headed home.
A million thoughts ran in my mind.
For when I got home what did I find.
A porch full of Pansies with a note.
A simple Your Welcome was
all that was wrote.
Your gaurdian angel
the note was signed.
My heart filled with love
for God in Heaven above.
For this lesson in beauty I did
not mind.
Beautiful treasures are
all around to see.
But beauty from the heart
is hard to find.
It took a gaurdian angel for me.
I will leave you with this thought
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder,
as she once told me.

Linda Kaffer Febuary 13, 2002