All Along the Way
In my senior year of high school one of the classes I had was Advanced Speech. I had already taken Speech I and II, so this was the final episode.
There were two ten minute memorized 'performances' that were required as a final test for passing the class. We had two plays under our belt, and now these single performances. My first presentation was Ophelia from Shakespeare's Hamlet.
I mention this for two reasons. Ophelia, in Act IV, Scene v, has lost her mind, and she starts handing out flowers to people around her. She talks directly about the symbolic meaning of the flowers.
"There's rosemary, that's for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies, that's for thoughts. […] There's fennel for you, and columbines. There's rue for you; and here's some for me; we may call it herb of grace o' Sundays. You must wear your rue with a difference. There's a daisy. I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died..."
Rosemary—remembrance
Pansies—thoughts
Fennel —strength and praiseworthiness,
Rue—regret
Columbine —folly,
Daisies —innocence, and
Violets —faithfulness and modesty.
Shakespeare was a master in many ways. Who else could sum up life in seven flowers?
I have mentioned en passant that my sister passed away a few months ago. I always have carried her on my heart throughout the years. Pansies were her favorite flowers.
As a Willie Nelson song I heard lately stated, 'It's not something you get over. It's something you get through."
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.13) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
