Summer is the season for breath taking beauty! My favorite flower is the rose. There are many messages this flower brings as we study the details of its beauty. At first we see the color of the bud, then the sweet smell and of course, all the beautiful green leaves to enhance the flower. There are two other details in the rose that give meaning to the beauty. First, the strong stem which represents the strength to support the rose while it is growing. Second, the thorn which represents a symbol of protection for the rose. Some scientists speculate that roses might have thorns to protect them from being eaten by animals who are attracted to their wonderful smell.
This coming October my husband and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. In the early days of our marriage, I communicated to him how much I love getting flowers, especially roses. He often surprises me with the gift of a bouquet of roses. My favorite color is a salmon with pink tips. I like to separate the bouquet and put flowers in all the rooms of my house. It is a reminder for me to share the beauty of a gift. Over the years I have been amazed at the length of time the roses last. There are times when the roses only last a few days. One bouquet lasted almost three weeks and dried into a lovely display. Most of the roses my husband brings me are without thorns. Although the thorns have been removed, I do recognize their absence.
I love the idea that the thorns have a purpose to protect the flower. How do you look at “thorns” in your life? It is our human nature to rid ourselves of the thorns, not considering the purpose behind it. Could it actually be protecting us from something? Or perhaps piercing our flesh to create a new opening to transform our mind to renewed thinking. We often to want the arrival experience only to realize that the journey is the destination. It only takes a tweak, maybe a piercing, to gain new perspective. Abraham Lincoln said, “We can complain because the rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice that thorn bushes have roses.”
If you are stuck and need a renewed perspective, take a walk in a rose garden or pick up some roses to arrange in your home this weekend. Be mindful of what is happening all around you through nature and the people in your life. Don’t run from the thorny moments in life; they are leading you to beautiful places.
Until next week . . .
