Florida Flamingoes

Today I had a sweet memory about an experience we had when we lived in Florida several years ago. For several weeks in a row , members of our ward were doing the Florida version of the Family Home Evening Phantom. One Monday night, there was a knock at the door. When we opened it there was a foil wrapped treat with a note telling us we had been flamingoed, and gave us directions to pass it on the next week. Upon further investigation, our yard was covered by a flock of 2 ft tall plastic flamingoes with little windmill wings. All week, as we drove to and from our house, we were reminded that someone cared about us.

The following week, as instructed, I made an extra home evening treat to give away. I baked a cake but didn't have anything disposable to put it on, so I chose an old, ugly plate that was the lone survivor of a set of plates I had used at college years ago. I wasn't heart broken to part with it, although I was a little embarrassed to be serving cake on it, even though it was totally anonymous.

We went over to the chosen house and got to work. It was a lot of fun arranging the flamingoes and doing the ring and run thing. Everyone was very hush- hush about who had started the tradition or who had been visited. About 6 weeks later, my daughter was at one of her friend's houses eating dinner. When I dropped her off, it was obvious the fun ws continuing because their yard held a flock of plastic pink flamingos that had landed there the Monday before.
When the family sat down to dinner, Charla was pleased when she was informed that because she was the guest, she would get to eat dinner on the "special plate". She felt a bit like a celebrity until her dinner was served and she recognized that the "special plate" was indeed the old discarded plate we had used for treats weeks before. When she asked what mad it special, she was told that it was the "flamingo plate" and had been delivered with goodies the night the flamingoes came. Apparently, it had been passed on and had become the traditional goody plate so now what was once useless and discarded now held special value. She didn't let on that it was our plate, but we had a good laugh about it when she got home.

I'm not sure where the plate ever ended up but now whenever I see a yard decorated with plastic pink flamingos I think about the lesson learned by that experience and how we put value on things. I wonder how often we discard people because we have the belief that they are useless and we choose to only see their flaws, (especially when we look in the mirror).

Next time you feel like giving up on someone, even if it is yourself, remember what the Lord has said, “The worth of a soul is great” It’s not the package that matters so much, it is the sweetness and uniqueness that is delivered with each individual, even cheesy pink flamingos!!

Christine

As a crystal clear instrument in God's hand, I reflect His love and illuminate the path of peace

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