Raindrops on roses - this is what awaited me one morning when I peered out the window at my potted rose plant, which recently bloomed the most delicious smelling, deep pink bud I have ever seen it grow. Each time I glanced its way, it had grown a little bigger and leaned in as if beckoning me to step out onto the deck, hold it's beautiful head in my hands and breathe in its perfume.
This rose brought so much joy to my week and made me pause numerous times throughout my busy days. It slowed me down and caused me to literally stop and smell the roses.
After a few days of watching the rose grow from a promise, to a bud, to a bloom, it lifted its head as if it so dearly wanted to be admired. It was breathtaking. I took every spare moment to enjoy it, taking photos and posting them to social media. It couldn't have bloomed any brighter than it did on that day even if it tried, and somehow I knew I had to make the most of it.
Overnight, a warm wind picked up and the very next day, the rose was gone. I must admit, I felt sad. This rose that had brought me so much joy was now a flutter of petals, scattered across the grass.
I was glad I had enjoyed the rose while it was here. I was glad I had taken the time to appreciate it's beauty.
Moments are fleeting
Moments are fleeting. Through all the busyness, distractions and demands, my children and loved ones are like that rose. They make me want to slow down, to hold their faces in my hands and kiss their cheeks. They make me want to take mental photographs of moments that will imprint in my heart forever.
They make me want to hold their hands and tell them time and time again that I love them - which I do. And though it may seem a little over the top, I don't want a single day to go by that they do not know how much they are loved.
We live in uncertain times. Each day is a gift. Yet in amongst the busyness, in amongst the demands, in amongst the battles, there are roses in the form of loved ones whose faces want to be seen, whose eyes long to be looked into, whose hands want to be held.
Have we loved enough?
If today is our last day here on this earth, have we loved enough? Have we enjoyed the faces that are before us? Our spouses, our children, our parents, our friends? Have we forgiven and let go of offences that tangle and eat away at the love that could have been shared. When perspective takes hold, have we loved as we've been loved?
Before the petals fly into the wind, take opportunities as they present themselves to make eye contact, smile deeply, love deeply and breathe in every moment. There are only so many moments in life.
"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever." Isaiah chapter 40 verse 8.
On a lighter note, here's a suggestion my teenagers would love me to share. When dropping your teenager off at school you could wind down the window and call out in a very loud voice that you love them (I have actually done this - hehe!). They really love this one and it's very memorable!
In the words of singer/songwriter Sara Groves:
'And at the risk of wearing out my welcome.
At the risk of self-discovery,
I'll take every moment,
And every minute that you give me.
And I wish all the people I love the most
Could gather in one place,
And know each other and love each other well.
And I wish we could all go camping.
And lay beneath the stars,
And have nothing to do and stories to tell.
We'd sit around the campfire
And we'd make each other laugh,
Remembering when...
And you're the first one I'm inviting.
Always know that you're invited, my friend.
-Sara Groves, 'Every minute'
Rebecca and her husband Tony, have four children and live on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Rebecca loves writing children stories, interest articles and teaching piano. She is grateful for a God who loves us.
Rebecca Moore's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/rebecca-moore.html