Each year, I buy roses for Santa to leave in Jacob’s stocking. (The decision to continue hanging his stocking is another story, but we haven’t stopped, & are at peace with that decision.)
I typically go to our local grocery store, as they do a nice job during Christmas (and so many other florist shops have closed recently). This year, as I was looking through the bundles of red roses, they all looked a little sad already. Kinda wilted, kinda weary 
(kinda like a Mom during the Holidays). I checked their sticker date, which was 12/24 (it was the 23rd). Hmmm.
(kinda like a Mom during the Holidays). I checked their sticker date, which was 12/24 (it was the 23rd). 
Hmmm.I glanced at the florist, who was busy preparing balloons.
I hesitated to interrupt her. There were already a few bouquets out (all equally tired looking).
“𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳.”
“𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘥.”
“𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘳.”
Etc.
This internal debate took seconds in my brain. Another thought popped up, “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯?” She could say no. And I’m no worse off than I am now.
So, holding up the red roses, I approached, smiled, and asked if she had any more.
Without missing a beat, she smiled, and said, “𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬.” Seconds later, she emerged with a fresh, perky bouquet.
(I realized it was entirely possible she thought I was looking to buy MORE flowers . . . oops)
If I hadn’t asked, I would’ve settled. In our desire to avoid being a bother, we’re also denying others the opportunity to bless us in small, yet meaningful ways.
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭?
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