Authors

  1. WILLIAMS, JENNIFER

Article Content

Mrs. Nelson was dying from Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS), but she always had a smile on her face. She wasn't able to speak anymore because of the disease; however, she had a board with the alphabet so she could send messages. She told me that before her illness, whenever one of her friends got married, she designed the flowers for the wedding. I decided that I wanted to do something for her and bought a dozen miniature white roses.

  
Figure. No caption a... - Click to enlarge in new windowFigure. No caption available.

Mrs. Nelson took my hand and spelled out, "I am so thankful for you." Later her family invited me to join them for a Communion service they were having for her.

 

Two days later, Mrs. Nelson died. It was very hard for me. Weeks later, Mrs. Nelson's son sent a card with a picture he had drawn with a thank-you message. He said that I would never know what the flowers I gave his mother meant to her and the entire family. Each time I look at the picture, I am reminded that God allowed me to make a difference in someone's life.