It was a May morning, the weather was not quite warm and the wind was still a little cold.But spring had really come.Look, the fields are green, the grass is growing taller, the trees are sprouting, and you can see beautiful flowers opening everywhere.Spring seems to be telling its story to every leaf.
On a small apple tree, there is a small green branch which looks especially beautiful.There were many little pink flower buds growing on this branch, and they were all bulging like they were going to open right away.The branch thought to itself, “I am so beautiful!”It felt special, as if it knew innately that it was lovelier than the other branches.
One day, a luxurious carriage stopped next to the tree.A young countess got out of the carriage, dressed in a beautiful dress and holding a parasol made of silk.She looked up at the branch and then said, “Wow, this is really the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen!This is spring at its best.”
When she had finished speaking, she had her servant fold the branch and hold it carefully in her hands, and shielded it from the sun with her parasol, lest it should be spoiled.Then they went back together in the car to their big house.
The house was a beautiful one!There were many spacious rooms inside, nice paintings on the walls, and thick carpets on the floor.The sun shone through the windows and the curtains fluttered gently in the wind.There were also all kinds of vases filled with flowers in the room.One of the vases was transparent and looked like it was made of snow in winter.
Apple branches were stuck in this vase, alongside a few fresh beech branches.It was now standing by the window, looking out at the world, and feeling particularly proud of itself.It thought, “I am the one who was chosen to be placed in such a beautiful house!I must be the prettiest flower of all.”
It began to watch the people coming and going.Some people would walk in and look at the flowers, and some would say a few words of praise, while others would not say a word.The apple branch thought to itself, “People are just as different as plants.Some things are meant to be admired, some things are meant to be practical, and some …… may be nothing at all.”
Because the apple branch was right up against the window, it could see the garden and the field outside.There were many flowers and plants there too, some noble, some common.As it looked around, it noticed a small yellow flower that was particularly unremarkable.
“Gee, how sad that no one cares about these flowers.”Apple Branch sighed, “It must be sad if they can feel as I do.The world is just not the same, some are destined to be noble, some can only be ordinary, it can’t be helped.”
These little yellow flowers are all over the fields.People don’t pick them to make bouquets or put them in pretty vases.They are also called “Devil’s Milk Bucket” (which is actually a dandelion, because when it breaks off, it oozes out white sap, like milk).
“These flowers are bad luck.”Apple Branch said again, “It’s not like they’re as common as they want to grow and have bad names.But anyway, they just aren’t as good as us fancy flowers.”
At that moment, the sun’s rays shone in through the window, and it kissed every flower on the apple branch, as well as the little yellow flowers in the field.The sun’s brothers and sisters-that is, the other rays of light-also shone gently on these little flowers, both noble and common.
It didn’t even occur to the apple branch that, in fact, nature is fair to all life.It also didn’t realize that sometimes the most beautiful and useful things might not be obvious, but they existed silently.
The sunlight seemed to have heard the apple branch’s thoughts, and it said softly, “You don’t see far enough, and what you see is only on the surface.Who exactly are those ‘nobody’s business’ plants you say you sympathize with?”
“It’s that little yellow flower called ‘Devil’s Milk Pail’.”Apple Branch replied, “No one makes bouquets of them, and people even step on them because there are so many of them.And when they produce seeds, those white fuzzies will fly everywhere and stick to your clothes.They’re just weeds, they’re not much use.”
Just then a group of children ran into the field.The youngest one was so small that he couldn’t walk very steadily, and the other children took turns carrying him.When they put him in the middle of these little yellow flowers, he was so happy that he laughed and kicked and rolled around at the same time.
He picked only these little yellow flowers and kissed them affectionately a few times.The older kids connected the flower stalks one by one and made necklaces, bracelets, belts, and even headdresses.They had so much fun that they turned the meadow into a little flower jewelry exhibition.
They also especially liked the little yellow flowers that had finished blooming.By this time, the flowers had faded, leaving behind a small, white, furry ball.This little ball looked like a feather, like a snowflake, and like soft fluff.The children took it to their mouths and blew hard, and the whole ball flew up and sprinkled into the air like a heavenly maiden.
The old people used to say that whoever could blow this kind of flower away in one breath would have new clothes to wear in the New Year.So to the children, it wasn’t just a flower, but a hope.
“Did you see it?”Sunbeam asked Apple Branch, “Do you see the beauty of these flowers?Do you see their power?”
“Well …… it’s only kind of fun when the kids play with it, I guess.”The apple branch still wasn’t quite convinced.
At that moment, an old woman came out into the field.She took a knife without a handle and knelt down to dig up the roots of these little yellow flowers.She was going to go home and make coffee, or take them to the pharmacy and sell them for money.
“But beauty should be something nobler.”Apple Branch insisted, “Only a few special people can understand beauty.There are differences between plants, and there are differences between people.”
The sunlight listened and continued gently, “In fact, the Creator is full of love for every living thing.He treats everything equally, whether it is noble or ordinary.”
“That’s just your opinion.”The apple branch still wouldn’t admit it.
Just then, the beautiful countess returned again.This time she was holding a flower, or something resembling a flower.The flower was carefully wrapped in a few large leaves, like a hat, to protect it from the wind.
She held it carefully, more carefully than she had treated the apple branch in the first place.
The leaves were gently removed, but it turned out to be a white pompom of the “devil’s milk bucket”!It was the little yellow flower that so many people overlooked!
She took the flower home and placed it very carefully so that the wind would not disturb its soft fluffy hair.She also praised it for how beautifully shaped it was, how transparent its color was, how special its structure was, and even its beauty, which blew apart at the slightest breeze, was immensely moving to her.
“You see,” she said, “the Creator has made so many beautiful things.Though this flower is common, it has its own beauty.The apple branch is indeed beautiful, but this little yellow flower, too, has been blessed by Nature.They are different, but both are beautiful.”
The sun’s rays shone on this little yellow flower and on the apple branch.The petals of the apple branch seemed to redden a little, as if they were shy.
This story tells us: Everyone and everything has its own value.Sometimes we feel that certain things are not important because we don’t see what they really mean.Just like that little yellow flower, it may be ordinary, but it brings laughter to children and becomes a work of art in the eyes of adults.And the sunbeams know that no matter what kind of life it is, it is treated gently by nature.
So don’t judge others or other things so easily.Maybe the inconspicuous existence in your eyes is quietly shining.
