No Proof Needed: The Power of Faith

Sharing a Letter from our Chairman & CEO

With longer days, blossoming flowers, and the return of green to our landscapes, the world is springing back to life after the dark, cold months of winter. We're finally immersed in the season of nature's renewal and miracles. The reawakening from the darkness of winter — combined with Passover and Easter in a few weeks — makes me think about the biggest questions of life: What is its ultimate purpose? What happens at the end? And why do we keep going when we don't know the outcome? These are hard questions, and nobody has definitive answers to them. But I can tell you what I believe, even if I can't give you hard evidence to back it up. That's because those beliefs live in a different place than facts and figures. They come from the heart, not the head. They come from faith. Faith isn't about having all the data to back up assertions. It comes from believing in something even when we can't prove it. It's about trusting in a future we can't see yet, holding on to hope when the outcome is uncertain, and finding meaning in the mystery of it all. Keeping the faith It's no surprise that Easter and Passover take place in the season of nature's rebirth. For thousands of years, these holidays have helped people make sense of life's biggest questions. Whether it's Christ's resurrection or the Israelites breaking free from slavery, both events are rooted in faith: faith in freedom, in redemption, in renewal, and in a future that hasn't yet arrived. Faith is the foundation of religion, but it's present elsewhere. Put another way, you can't have religion without faith, but you can absolutely have faith without being religious. Faith shows up in the trust we place in each other, in the belief that better days are ahead, and in the hope we pass along to our children. It's not just optimism, which is usually grounded in facts or previous patterns. With faith, we believe with every fiber in our body and lead our lives by it. Faith fuels some of the most important decisions we make: starting a family, rebuilding after a loss, taking a leap on a new idea, loving again. In those moments, facts and plans can only take us so far. What really carries us or choosing to move forward is a quiet conviction deep within. The role faith plays in our lives Consider, for example, our relationships. At the heart of each one is faith, which often takes the form of trust. When you connect with someone — whether a friend or romantic partner — you have faith in the potential of that relationship. Let's face it: Relationships are hard. There will always be bumps in the road, and there's no guarantee they'll last forever. People grow. Life changes. But it's faith that allows us to believe that we'll grow together, not apart. It's faith that tells us we can get through this. We cannot monitor our partners constantly, so we rely on the faith that the other person will act in our best interest, even in our absence, motivated by care rather than obligation. When you might have an argument or a difference with your partner or spouse, it is the faith you have in the other person that allows a continuance of the relationship. And the influence of faith doesn't stop there. It guides everything from the decisions we make at work to how we cast our ballots on election day. Faith is woven through how we live, connect, and move forward. Faith in the modern world I know today's topic might sound out of place in today's world. We're trained to rely on facts and data. And don't get me wrong, that's important. I've made plenty of decisions based on evidence, and I believe in logic and planning. But some of the most important decisions we make can't be made with certainty. No spreadsheet that tells you who to love, when to forgive, or whether that leap of faith will land just right. And yet we leap anyway. That's the beauty of faith. It gives us the courage to keep going when things are unclear, to trust in people and possibilities even when we can't see the full picture. It's not ignoring reality but believing in something more. Something better. So, as we enjoy this season of renewal, I encourage you to reflect on where faith shows up in your life. Maybe it's in your family, your friendships, your work, or your community. Maybe it's just the quiet belief that even after a long winter, spring always comes. All the best, Jim At just 15 years old, Edith Gross was forced from her home in Czechoslovakia and sent to Auschwitz, where she faced unimaginable horrors during the Holocaust.  In this week's Celebrate Your Story, I had the privilege of sitting down with Edith, who now lives on Long Island, to hear her harrowing yet inspiring journey. She spoke about the survival, the losses she endured, and how she has found joy, family, and purpose in the years since. I hope you enjoy this very special episode and share your thoughts with me at podcasts@celebrations.com. Inside the ADA: A powerful new film on civil rights As we wrap up National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, I wanted to share a powerful documentary that made a big impression on me. Part of PBS's American Experience series, "Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act" tells the story of the tireless fight for equality that led to the passage of the ADA in 1990, which is a milestone moment in civil rights history. Through firsthand accounts from activists and lawmakers, the documentary brings to life the courage and persistence behind the movement. One of the most moving moments is the "Capitol Crawl," when disability rights advocates left their wheelchairs and crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capitol to demand equal access. That moment — and many others captured in the film — remind us just how much progress was made, and how much more still lies ahead. I encourage you to take time to watch this story. It's an important tribute to those who paved the way, and a reminder that inclusivity, accessibility, and dignity should never be optional. A well-earned honor for our customer care team At 1-800-Flowers.com, we love helping our customers strengthen their relationships and celebrate the important moments of their lives. But behind every delivery, every "thank you," and every moment of joy is a team that works tirelessly to ensure that every customer is cared for. That's why I'm proud to share some wonderful news: Our Customer Care team has been recognized with two honors at the 2025 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service — a tribute that highlights the heart of our mission. The team received the Gold Stevie Award for their work in "Highlighting the Voice of the Customer through Data & Analytics," and a Bronze Stevie Award for the innovative "Dissatisfied Ticket Customer Callback Process" in the Best Customer Feedback Strategy category. These awards celebrate not just strong operational execution, but a genuine commitment to listening, learning, and acting on what our customers tell us. This recognition tells me that our team isn't just meeting expectations but redefining them. To everyone on the Customer Care team: Thank you! Your work doesn't just make our service better, it strengthens our relationships with the customers we serve. Our favorite April Fool's Day pranks Last week, I asked you to share your favorite April Fools' Day pranks. As always, you delivered with creativity and good humor. Whether you're a prankster or the one getting pranked, these lighthearted traditions remind us that laughter can be one of the best ways to connect. Here are a few of the stories that brought a smile to my face: Tricia sent in a couple of memorable moments. One from her teenage years involved hiding the T-tops from her mom's car before she woke up — imagine that surprise! And these days, as a barber, she keeps the laughs going with a special prank cape printed with a bikini. "When I throw it over my male customers," she said, "it looks like they have a bikini on. Hysterical!" Deb grew up on a dairy farm, where the April 1 cry of "The cows are out!" became an annual prank tradition. "If you've lived on a farm, you know that's the last thing you want to hear," she wrote. It was enough to cause momentary panic, until the realization hit: It's April Fools' Day. And from our own team, Lori shared this clever workplace prank: "Every week I email my boss a list of purchase order numbers that must be electronically reviewed by him. In consideration of the time it takes, the list is usually 5 to 15 units in total. But last April 1, I sent him a list with 50-plus numbers and made him scroll down to see that it was an April Fools' Day prank. He admitted that I got him good!" Related articles that caught my eye Written by our Founder and CEO, our Celebrations Pulse Letters aim to engage with our community. From sharing stories to welcoming your ideas, we want to help you to express, connect, and celebrate the important people in your life. Unsubscribe from Pulse Newsletter | Manage Preference Center | Privacy Policy | Contact Us  | Wine Restrictions The Celebrations Passport® program is not applicable in Harry & David Retail Stores. This email was sent to: webmonster2.sq90rar@blogger.com. © 2025, Harry and David, LLC. All rights reserved. 2500 S Pacific Hwy, Medford, OR, 97501 | 1-877-322-1200 View as webpage