Roses

A life with love will have some thorns but a life without love will have no roses.

~Unknown

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, can you believe it?

If you're like me, you would agree that it's a wonderful feeling to receive flowers! 

I must say that my sweet hubby does a great job in this area.

He blesses me with flowers several times throughout the year...
...sometimes for no special occasion.

More times than not, they are roses—my favorite—and no particular color.

I love them in all shades.

It is not because I am a perfect wife or anything even remotely resembling one.

The fact is, I feel undeserving of them quite often.

Still, he keeps bringing them to me.

But it saddens me when they start to droop their heads and lose their petals.

Some blooms will last longer than others, no doubt...
...and I have a hard time throwing them out when they wilt.

So, here's what I do while they are still intact.

The stems dry straight while hanging and will once again hold up those pretty heads...
...if you're lucky enough to keep the petals from falling off.

I sprayed these with a very strong fixative-type hair spray.

Most of these roses have been around for quite a few years.

Some them came from my hubs, of course...

...and others from funeral sprays from both my mom's and dad's caskets.
Dad died in 2002 and Mom in 2010 so you see they've been around a while.
All of us children picked some out.
All eight of us.

Some were vibrant red...

...some were a deep burgundy...some were yellow.

Others were pale yellow with pink tips...I think they are called "peace".

Something so magnificent happens to them when they dry, don't you think?

Look at the textures and the beautiful layering of the petals.

There is something so...Victorian about them.

I almost love them as much after they've dried as I do when they are fresh.

Almost.

Fragile? You bet.

Like the dried roses, life is fragile.

~HANDLE WITH CARE~

We now have this light shining in our hearts,
but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.
This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

2 Corinthians 4: 7

**********************************************

THE ROSE

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,
The flower God opens so sweetly,
In my hands would fade and die.

I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust Him for His leading
Each moment of every day
And I'll look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

For the pathway that lies before me
My heavenly Father knows
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments
Just as He unfolds the rose.

~Author Unknown

***********************************************

 And now, a few more "rosey" quotes...

We can complain because rose bushes have thorns,
or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.
~Abraham Lincoln

 The rose speaks of love silently, in a language known only to the heart.
~Author Unknown

The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose.
~George William Curtis



Don't strew me with roses after I'm dead.
When Death claims the light of my brow
No flowers of life will cheer me: instead
You may give me my roses now!
~Thomas F, Healey

Just like me believing that I didn't deserve the gift of roses from my husband,
God's love is like that for us, His children.

He keeps giving it, regardless.
Because He loves us without conditions.
That is what He does...that is who He is.
Aren't you glad?

So, sweet friends, I leave you with this song which reminds us of the most perfect rose of all.

"Rose of Bethlehem"
~Selah

 Blessings!

Sharing here:

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