The Sunflower Man

I recently read that Frank McKenna, a former premier of New Brunswick gave twenty million dollars to St. Francis Xavier University. It is an amazingly generous gift and no doubt will effect the lives of students for generations. Though I have never met him, have always admired Mr. McKenna and now I do even more. I often read about these types of donations in the newspapers and I am always happy to see families gathered together to bestow the gifts. I will often look up the family and learn more about them. I am always interested in the reason they gave for the donation, their beginnings and their story. There is often a story associated with their donation.

Most people will never be in a position to give such a gift. It will not be part of our story. But we have other stories. And I want to tell you a story about a man who has brought my family a gift for the last two years. I have not met him. He brings this gift to my husband who works at Mansours, a hundred year old mens clothing store in our downtown.

For the last two years he has dropped off a dozen or so sunflower plants to us. They are Planted in recycled pots and used red solo cups and whatever he can get his hands on. And he gives them away to many people to plant in their yards. When my husband asked him how he came to do this for others, he said, "My father did it too."

Each plant is three to five inches tall and ready to go in the ground. We take the plants happily and share them with a few friends and then I plant a few by the back door of our house. And this week those plants are beginning to bloom. And they are beautiful in themselves. Those leafy yellow petals smiling at me as I walk in the door. The deep brown centres preparing themselves as a feast for the birds. Having them at your door is a welcome home. But more than that, those sunflowers are a reminder of the kindness of human nature. They remind me what a small gesture can do for another person. And I think also that giving away these sunflowers and knowing they are blooming in someone's garden in August must make this man feel so good. It is as important we are told to give as it is to receive.

So when I walk in my door I am reminded of the small gestures we can make that can affect the daily lives of others. We do not have to wait until we are able to do the big thing. We can do the small things starting right now. And this is a good reminder to have on your back step. What can I add to the world? What is my work to do? How can I bring a little more joy, love or kindness into the lives of others, and by osmosis into my own life.

The sunflower man does this because he can. And he makes a difference. And I love that he does.