Roses Bloom Best...

...when we let the Creator handle things that we truly do not understand...

Here is the essence* of a thoughtful email I recently received from my mother. I hope it adds some measure of hope, light and/or peace to your day.

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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, and 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 flowers 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 along 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."

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I was just studying D&C 58: 26-29 this morning. I have read and reread, pondering these verses throughout my life and find them empowering and humbling at the same time. There is a tricky balance in life of acting in faith--including obedience to God's law--and acting as a Free Will Agent, able to make decisions in virtue of our own free will. To choose our actions, but not any inevitable consequences, is such an amazing gift which should not be wasted. At least as important is the power we have to (choose to) live in faith. When we believe in Greater Power it shows in our actions. Faith and choice are not in competition with each other, but can have an incredibly powerful, complementary reality in each of our lives. I have come to realize that it is when I am doing my best to balance these elements of life that the 'roses' unfold in the greatest beauty.



Thank you to the many people in my life that have shared this ilk of counsel with me, and let me see their great examples in quiet, simple ways.

May you find peace in your life as you strive to find the balance of your faith and actions.

With love.




*A lot of editing occurred between my email in box and this post, no offense to the original author intended, whoever you may be. I thank you for sharing your thoughts, though with the way emails travel you may never see this note to you!

A Favorite Place...

There are many things that I like, and sometimes -- a lot like my husband -- I have a hard time picking a 'favorite' this or that. I have a few long-time favorites...French Vanilla, for example, is my favorite ice cream flavor, but Thrifty's Chocolate Malted Crunch comes in at very near the top of the list, and on some days will be chosen over a top-notch French Vanilla! Of course, favorites can change over time, but it does seem strange to me to have a new favorite this or that if the last one didn't last very long. Maybe it depends on the type of thing we are talking about, such that a favorite color may only last as long as that blouse that you love so much lasts, but a favorite song will always pluck those heartstrings like only your favorite can. In lieu of having hard and fast favorites, a lot of the time I will elect a list of favorites instead of a top, all-exclusive spot with space for only one thing at a time.

All this being said, however, I do have a strong favoritism to a special place on earth called the LDS temple. Here again, though, another place comes into my favorite space and sits very near this special place on earth ~ home.

The temple is a place of holiness, sanctuary, prayer, peace, and countless blessings. A walkway between heaven and earth. A place dedicated to the worship and service of the Most High God. David & I were blessed to spend a few hours of our day yesterday in peaceful pursuit of its hallowed, transcendent space. What an incredible, magnanimous gift to be just minutes from a temple! These pics are from yesterday...such a beautiful day!


Answers to prayer may not come all at once. Sometimes they do! Sometimes we need to seek peace in our hearts and minds so that when the answer(s) come, or the parts of it we are ready for at the time, we will be ready to receive. I hope then that we can truly rejoice that Father in Heaven hears us and knows our every need. I am working on better expressing my gratitude and implementing what I know into my actions. Some needs He lets us figure out on our own. So many He grants us in grace and mercy without our even giving thought. Others we need to seek from His guiding hand. I know that in seeking, we can find Him. In finding Him we find peace. A friend once shared with me the thought that if there is something coming between you and God, that thing is closer to Him than you are.

* * *

May you have an opportunity to find peace...the peace that comes from knowing God and the awareness that He truly does know you. You may feel small and insignificant, and even less on some days, but I know that you His son or daughter, and I am grateful to know that I am your sibling!

With love.