The Iris

Anne's favorite flower is the Iris. I asked her one-day why it was her preferred flower and she replied, "It was my grandma's favorite flower!"   Anne loved her grandmother very much. Anne would travel as a young girl with her grandma and grandpa Dalzell in their motor home when her grandparents went on evangelical trips.  They would hold revival meetings across the U.S. and Canada. Since Anne was home schooled, it was not an issue with her studies, she could take them with her, and her grandparents would teach her on the road.  I remember Anne telling me how the real life experiences changed her while traveling all over the U.S. and Canada. 

Anne’s grandma (Margie) was a gentle spirit; you could find her always busily preparing the next meal or when time allowed, reading a book.  Her love for service to others and learning never stopped even when she was in her late 80s. 

When traveling with her grandparents, Anne told me that they would many times be invited to people’s homes for dinner after the revival meetings.  Anne recalls eating at very spacious homes, rich with many luxurious things around them. While at other times, Anne knew that a particular family was going to short their food budget by inviting them over to their humble home.  She said that they would cheerfully give with joy, kindness and humility.  It was a lesson that Anne would take with her to this present day.  In retrospect, as a teacher, I have learned that many important lessons are indeed learned outside of the classroom. 

Now when I look at the Iris’ that grow in our garden, I see so much more than the beauty of the flower.  I believe that God gives us reminders like these, which help us to remember people and events that are an important part of our past and present, reminders that warm our hearts.  Margie’s legacy goes on past her lifetime into the hearts of her children, grandchildren and now great grandchildren, along with the many thousands of lives she touched when serving the Lord.  All of these things can now be seen in a simple flower, the Iris.