THE ROSE

GOD'S Rosebud 

A new minister 

was walking with an older, 

More seasoned minister 

In the garden one day.

Feeling a bit insecure 

About what God 

Had for him to do, 

He was asking the older preacher 

For some advice.

The older preacher 

Walked up to a rosebush 

And handed the young preacher 

A rosebud and told him

To open it 

without tearing off any petals.

The young preacher 

Looked in disbelief 

At the older preacher

And was trying to figure out
What a rosebud
Could possibly have to do
With his wanting to know
The will of God

For his life and ministry.

 But because of his great respect

For the older preacher,
He proceeded to try to unfold the rose,

While keeping every petal intact.

It wasn't long

Before he realized
How impossible

this was to do. 

Noticing the younger preacher's inability

to unfold the rosebud

Without tearing it,

The older preacher

Began to recite

The following poem.

"It is only a tiny rosebud,

A flower of God's design;

But I cannot unfold the petals

With these clumsy hands of mine."

The secret of unfolding flowers

Is not known to such as I.

GOD opens this flower so easily,

But in my hands they die." 

"If I cannot unfold a rosebud,

This flower of God's design,

Then how can I have the wisdom

To unfold this life of mine?" 

"So I'll trust in God for leading

Each moment of my day.

I will look to God for guidance

In each step of the way." 

 "The path that lies before me,

Only my Lord knows.

I'll trust God to unfold the moments,

Just as He unfolds the rose." 

As I was pondering what to share today for Spiritual Sundays I got an email from an old friend. This beautiful story was in that email. At the end of the post was an admonition to pass it on to others. I chose to use this venue of passing it on instead of e-mailing it. I hope it has blessed your life as it has mine.

- Charlotte

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