The Little Rose That Could (And Did)!

I was trying to find some “knock out” roses on our bushes which were the “perfect” shape to take to a friend but found that they were either tight buds or wide open and past their beauty. I decided on the ones you see in the picture. There was one bud which was slightly open and really pretty and a few open ones that were OK.

My friend was so complimentary of the roses and told me to take a picture because she knew that there was a blog message about them. Really? It didn’t even cross my mind, but I suppose God was letting me know this through her. Thank you, my friend!!

As I have thought about what God’s message could be, I have thought about how this rose is about to burst open in all its beauty. From this, several memories have come to mind. There is a picture of me when I was probably 3-4 years old, standing in the back yard in front of Mom's roses in my white T-shirt and shorts. I was grinning for all I was worth, and I think my caption would have been “Here I am, God! Let the fun begin!!”

Is this what that little rose is saying as it slowly begins to open?

Then I think about high school and college graduation days, when the entire world seemed to be completely open to me and what I wanted to do with my life. How exciting and scary at the same time. As exhilarating as fireworks to be free from schooling!!

Is this what that little rose is feeling as it slowly begins to open?

Another memory is about the book “The Little Engine that Could”. For you younger readers who may not know this story, it is about a long train that must be pulled over a high mountain after its engine breaks down. Larger engines are asked to pull the train; for various reasons they refuse. The request is sent to a small engine, who agrees to try. The engine succeeds in pulling the train over the mountain while repeating the motto: "I-think-I-can". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Engine_That_Could

Is this what the little rose is thinking as it slowly begins to open?

This rose was exemplifying what the other roses had already completed - their own cycle of doing what God intended them to do. God created them to have such beauty and aroma. He designed their shape, color, cycle of growth, and timing for opening wide those beautiful blooms. I love to watch roses open a little bit each day and determine at which stage I think they are the most beautiful. It’s a hard decision, but what a pleasure it is to see that each stage of God’s creation is made for us. Could there be a message in this rose?

With great excitement, this little rose will gradually open wide its petals, just like the others. It is, in fact, a giving flower. It gives to us as each petal slowly opens, and we see the largeness of each petal. It’s as if the rose is saying, “Here I am, God! Let the fun begin!!”; "the entire world is completely open to me"; I-think-I-can".

It is giving everything it has to give, just as God created it to do.

God has given us that same type of beauty and aroma as the rose! Are we giving everything we can of what God created us to be? If not, let’s start now!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Rachel