funeral flowers

Why “Funeral Flowers”? A little bit because my last name used to be Flowers. But mostly because flowers are such a traditional gift when someone experiences loss, this beautiful thing that represents both life and death. When you send flowers to a funeral you know that the beauty and symbolism of those flowers isn’t going to make the person’s grief or loss any less. In the same way, living alongside grief doesn’t mean there aren’t beautiful things in life still. I want to help build a world where grief and joy are equally honored, where lament and praise are both seen as valid forms of worship.

Often people will try to soften the sting of death and grief with phrases like, “They wouldn’t want you to be sad.” (Are you sure?? If I die I hope everyone I know is sad about that.) Or, “They’re in a better place.” (Yes, but I am not.) Or in the case of pregnancy or infant loss the extremely confounding “They just weren’t meant to be.” (My baby IS. She died, she didn’t cease to exist. She was meant and her life isn’t meaningless.) People mean well, but grief and loss will not be placated like that. Grief has to be experienced, cultivated, and lived with as a companion. Honest grief is a pathway to deeper faith. I want to cultivate a space for my grief and yours, for honest conversation and deep knowing, a place where the grief is honored not hurried up or hidden away. Grief and suffering are incredibly hard but they are also bringers of wisdom.

All photos and writing on this site were created by and are owned by MaryEsther Flowers unless otherwise stated. Any use of photos or text may be used by express permission only.