Keeping The Spark Alive

Keeping the Spark Alive with a Roadside Flower

After eighteen years of marriage, it’s easy for the spark to fizzle a bit. Life gets busy—we’re wrapped up in parenting, work, farming, housekeeping, and, let’s be honest, just trying to survive until bedtime (or sneak in a nap). Somewhere in all of that, we can forget to pursue one another.

Every now and then, my husband gently reminds me to reflect on whether I’m still pursuing him. He doesn’t do it with words. He does it with a daisy-looking weed. (Daisies are my favorite.)

The other day, we were at our farm when he got back in the truck holding a single flower. That small gesture made me feel incredibly loved. Actually, every time he brings me one, it has the same effect. It’s not the flower—it’s that he thought of me in the middle of his busy day. That makes me feel seen, valued, and important.

Kids are really, really good at this. Think of when your little ones—or, if you’re a teacher, your students—come in from recess clutching dandelions. They don’t see weeds. They see beauty, and they want to share it with someone they love. We could all learn a thing or two from that kind of simple, generous love.

It doesn’t take a grand gesture to show love. A quick text, a picked flower, or a random act of kindness can speak volumes. The little things—especially when life is chaotic—can sometimes say the very words we need to hear most.