Story of the Pressed Flower

By Anna Kao

A very special flower, the most beautiful and elegant of all flowers in her master’s garden, once blossomed for the world to see. She sat in fertile ground, daily enjoying the breeze of the warmth of mild sunshine, and the thousands of hues of color and beauty around her. Then one certain day, her master removed the flower from the world she knew and placed her in a dark、dark place under tremendous pressure. The flower, not knowing the reason for such pain, helplessly cried out from the pit, “ Why, my master?” There was no answer but silence.

Time passed and one day the master took the flower out from the darkness. The master with skillful hands and artistry, used the flower, along with other flowers, to create a magnificent work of art. The flower became a part of the prized showcases of the master. As she looked out from her master’s showroom window at her other fellow flowers in the garden that have since withered, she could only ponder why she was chosen for such a grand purpose. It was then that her masters’ voice spoke with great love. “ If you could only trust me, you would know that my plans for you are always for prosperity not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.”

有一朵特別出色的小花,在主人萬紫千紅的花園裡,每天享 受著溫暖的陽光、和煦的輕風。有一天她的主人突然把她剪下 來,放在極其黑暗和高度壓力的地方,不明白主人為什麼讓她承 受這麼大的痛苦,從深淵中她發出絕望的哭喊「為什麼是我,主 人?」但是卻沒有任何回應,只有沉默。

隨著時間推移,有一天主人從黑暗的幽谷裡把她拿出來,匠 心獨具地用她和同伴們,創造了一幅美麗的風景畫,掛在主人的 客廳牆上供訪客欣賞。當她從客廳的窗戶看到花園中的夥伴卻都 已經凋零了,她反覆沉思著主人特別的揀選。這時候耳邊響起主 人充滿了慈愛的聲音「妳若能信任我,就會早知道我向妳所懷的 意念,永遠是賜福的意念,不是降災的意念,要叫妳未來更有指 望。」