A Lilac bush can live for hundreds of years. They are very aromatic and smell like “Sweet heaven on a perfect Spring day” (not my words, but thought a good description).
Being the only female in my house the chances of smelling something sweet are few and far between. Over the past week, while the weather has been nice and the window remained open; the aromatic presence of lilac filled my home.
The year my father passed away our friends got together and asked my brothers and I what type of plant, flower or bush would we like to have. Not having a ‘green thumb’ or really knowing the difference, the only thing I could think of was how good lilacs smelled.
After the funeral our friends presented a lilac bush about 2 ft tall. With it came a plaque that read “Jerry Wood”. The plaque has since weathered over the years, but the lilac bush still strands strong.
John and I had removed an old Pine tree planted on the side of the house. The pine had been around since he was a child. We decided to complete the fence around to the side of the house; completely fencing in the back yard. We planted the lilac bush right in front of the newly installed fence in 2003.
Each year the lilac bush grew taller and wider never really producing much aroma. Every now and then you might get a few good twigs of lilac. This year the smell is overwhelming. In a good way! Sitting in the living room a slight breeze will blow the sweet smell of purple my way. Even the boys have noticed the smell and that is saying a lot.
So many things happening over the past few months have been reminding me, God is all around us and so is my father. Today while having Easter Brunch with my mother, brothers and their families I had to smile, because I know if my Dad had been sitting there with us, he too would have been smiling.
My father would have wanted to hold the new baby girl Erin, chased Jonathan around and sat at the table with the teenagers just to hear what they were talking about. He would have gone through the buffet line until his belly was so full he couldn’t fit anymore in it and then he would have topped it off with something sweet. He would have talked business with my brothers, but sat close to my mother. He would have done something goofy and found himself cracking up.
Even though he wasn’t physically with us on Easter, I know he was with us. He can smile from heaven knowing we were all together celebrating Easter Sunday. Tonight, I am sure, he will sooth the mind of my mother still on this earth. Each day I smell the sweet smell of heaven I will be reminded of him.
Luv, Luv, Dad!
Julie
