For Wilshire Baptist Church
The card inside the box of flowers said: “From your loving husband. I will keep you forever. You make my whole self smile. I couldn’t trade you for anything in the world.”
The flowers were delivered to our front porch by mistake, but at first we opened them thinking they were sent to LeAnn as a “get well soon” gift following eye surgery. But then we read the card and checked the address on the box. The number was right, but the street name was wrong; the correct destination was the boutique Belmont Hotel near downtown Dallas. I called the flower company and talked through the mistake and learned that the flowers were ordered by a man who was celebrating his anniversary with his wife. We were told, “Keep the flowers and we’ll send them a new box.”
With that settled, we enjoyed the flowers — red roses mixed with white calla lilies — for a full week. But something about the card still bothered me. It was that word “couldn’t.” Maybe I’m being too picky, but “couldn’t trade you for anything in the world” is not the same thing as “wouldn’t trade you for anything in the world.” “Couldn’t” sounds like one might trade if there were not an impediment or deterrence of some sort. “Wouldn’t” sounds like the world is open to any kind of wheeling and dealing, and yet you wouldn’t trade. One sounds like captured love; the other sounds like unleashed love, freewheeling love.
Freewheeling love sounds like the relationship that God wants with us — one that is freewheeling because it’s based on free will. We’re not tied down where we can’t stray; we’re free to come and go, but we don’t want to go because the love is so strong and real. And if we do stray, we’re free to come back into God’s loving arms where we’re told: “I will keep you forever. You make my whole self smile. I wouldn’t trade you for anything.”
I hope the anniversary couple got their flowers. I say that because we got a second delivery. This time the driver sensed an error and rang our doorbell instead of just leaving the flowers on the porch. When I told him it was a mistake, again, and explained the correct address, I added, “I know that couple will appreciate getting their flowers.” The driver looked at his watch and said, “Not from me, not tonight.” I don’t know if he couldn’t deliver the flowers, or if he just wouldn’t.
Flowers or no flowers, I hope the anniversary couple had a great celebration. More than that, I pray they have a wonderful life together. I wish them a life of freewheeling love.