I remember staring at the front yard and did not want to burden my grandfather with my thoughts of saving grandmother's roses. We were all consumed with her care and I dare not add rose bushes to the equation. At least, save the red ones. The seasons changed and during those seasonal changes, I continued to see those that mowed the lawn run right over what were now non-existing stumps, I saw dogs and other animals huddle over the area where the red roses once grew and empty their dung as well as trample all over that area. When it rained, I saw the rich dark ground muddy and unattractive and when it was cold I saw the ground brittle and weak.
Then spring came... I looked out and I saw one red rose sprouting out. I remember my heart racing, eyes watery, and a smile that spread extending to nations. I remember running to my bedridden grandmother then running to my grandfather with one request. Tell my cousins and those who are mowing the lawn not to run over the flowers. Remember, I had only seen one sprout. Granddad came to see what was the fuss about. He saw the little sprout and sighed and just said okay. That okay was to shut me up.
The days felt like months and years creeping by. My grandfather would yell to all mowing... go around - don't run over those flowers... go around!
Up comes red roses. Many of them! They had survived the elements, the dung (mess/crap of life), stripped of much yet those roses looked gorgeous. It was as if they sung to the Lord as their petals put on a proud display of colors graced by their softness. The dew in the morning glistened on them as if they were on showcase.
For some reason, this true event has always stuck with me. There is a seed in us all. My grandmother planted the seed(s). God plants seeds in us. Christ is the seed. We are imperfect and go through imperfect situations. We may become buried in mess, stripped of some things, endure various hardships yet we are not to stay there. We may have even been tangled up, trampled on, or allowed situations to bury us yet still the grace of God will allow us to rise up. We can rise up and be placed on showcase and just as the dew glistened on the soft petals of the roses we will not be bitter yet God's grace will not allow our hearts to be harden and like the dew on the roses be refreshed in his presence. Lastly, sometimes we have to be that voice, when we see our loved ones, friends, and tell them they are valued and although it seems that they are forgotten or they think they have to be perfect --- that they are loved, adored, valued, and we have their backs where they are and where we know they can potentially be.
Sidebar: Often times, I think preachers and Christians make people feel they are trying to reach this unattainable goal (a manmade bar) yet when you have a relationship - it is different. When you experience that flawed and messed up we all can be, that he (Christ) loves us where we are – where ever that may be, that is when we all experience real love and grace.
Written by Katrina Currie