Nature's Blessing

Spring was making its presence known. Tiny shards of grass were peeking through the brown earth. Trees were sprouting their very first buds. Flowers were considering their royal appearance. As Jane sat on her front porch, she marveled at the beauty of nature in motion.

The azure blue sky held few clouds. Those that were there looked like cotton candy that had been stretched out in an effort to tear some of it off to share with a friend. The effect was magical.

A cool breeze caressed Jane's face. She gazed at everything with the wonder of a child seeing it for the first time. However, the moment of pure bliss was momentary. It soon gave way to her abject fear.

It seemed unthinkable that among all the new growth and unending beauty, her mother's life could be ending. It didn't make any sense within her heart of hearts. She felt a tinge of guilt for the happiness she had just allowed herself to experience.

Glancing to her left and then her right, she craned her neck to see if the car was anywhere in sight. It was not. All that was left for her to do was to hope it wouldn't be much longer. The suspense was killing her.

"Jane, any word yet?" The question came from two doors down on the left. Mrs. Brown was one of her mother's best friends. The look of worry on her face, made the little girl cringe once more.

"Not yet, Mrs. Brown. It should be soon, though." With that 10-year-old Jane stood up and walked back into the house she shared with her parents.

Grabbing her mother's gardening gloves, she held them against her face. They smelled of dirt and her mother's hand cream. It was an oddly pleasing aroma.

A honk of the horn jarred her. Jane ran to the door to see her father pulling the car into the driveway. She held her breath as he got out and walked around to the other side to open the door for her mother.

She wondered if she should run out to greet them or stand her ground where she was. She could tell nothing from the blank looks on their two faces. They could have just as easily been returning from a business meeting as an appointment with the doctor.

Unable to stand the suspense anymore, Jane burst through the door and ran down the steps. She threw her loving arms around her mother. "Well?" It was a gasp more than a question.

"Let's sit on the porch, baby," her mother smiled. In that moment, Jane realized the news wasn't going to be what she'd hoped for.

A part of her wanted to cut and run. She wanted to run as far and as fast as she could for as long as she could. Nonetheless, in her heart, she knew there was no escape.

"The cancer is back, Jane. Look, we knew it was a possibility. We've had a lot more years together than I had with my mother. I was just six when she died.

We will have a few more months as well. I was thinking it was time we took the trip to Disneyland that we've always talked about. What do you think?"

Jane looked into her mother's lovely face and smiled. It was all she could think to do at that moment. Crying wasn't going to change anything and it would make her mother feel even worse. "I think that is a great idea, Mother."

Weeks passed and summer made its appearance too. The little family spent every waking moment together doing anything and everything as a family unit. There were picnics in the park, trips to the beach, camping excursions and a trip to Disneyland.

By the time winter rolled around, they had managed to live a lifetime in a few short months. It was a good thing too. By November, Jane's Mother could no longer get out of her bed.

Jane spent hours in her mother's room reading with her or watching movies and television. They played 20 questions, cards and every other game that could be played in bed.

They drank tea, ate finger sandwiches and talked for hours and hours. It was as if they were trying to learn everything about each other before it was too late.

February was cold, barren and icy. Jane thought that appropriate as she stood beside her mother's grave. Bending down, she placed fresh purple roses near her headstone. "I love you, Mother. I'll always love you." The words caught in her throat.

"It will be spring soon, you know. I plan to tend your garden just like always. Daddy is going to help me, of course. We'll take care of your gardenias, lilacs, hydrangeas and roses. I'll plant all of your favorite flowers. I hope you will be able to see them from heaven."

Broken hearted the little girl finally turned and went to join her father who stood beside their car. It was just the two of them now. They'd have to face spring alone.

Weeks passed and as spring progressed it seemed that everything was bigger and better than ever before. The trees held spectacular blossoms. The grass was greener than ever before. The rose bushes produced hundreds of roses. Even the flowers Jane planted seemed to grow faster, larger and more beautiful than anything she had ever seen.

"It's as if your mother has blessed this garden," her father whispered. "It is unbelievably beautiful."

"I know," Jane responded. "Mom's garden was always beautiful. The one thing she always lamented was that it didn't draw many butterflies. She loved butterflies. She told me once that she saw a white butterfly with turquoise colored markings. She said it was the only one of its kind that she had ever seen."

More weeks passed and the garden grew even more beautiful. One day as Jane walked outside to water, she caught her breath in a gasp. Hundreds of butterflies were flitting over the flowers. They landed for a few short moments and then exchanged places with others in a beautiful ballet of movement.

Jane was transfixed by the site and watched them for hours until slowly but surely each one floated away. That was, all but one. Sitting perfectly still on the purple rose bush was a white butterfly with turquoise markings.

Jane smiled at the sight and then with happy tears in her eyes gently whispered, "I love you too, Mother!"