The Rose . . . A New Look

The beautiful rose of my November post has completed its journey . . . But the seed hasn't! It continues to defy the onset of winter and is struggling to give us at least one more . . . but it didn't happen.

So much for roses in a Michigan winter. I'm discovering that Texas roses have their own struggle. Among the many beautiful, tropical plants blooming in Cindy's Texas back yard is her rose garden. Once flourishing and beautiful they now struggle to find their place in the sun. The natives are winning and slowly choking off the sun so essential for roses to grow.

So, while Cin was in Puerto Rico I raised up a new deck so she could get back into the sun and see over the top of her lush garden. It provides a fresh view of the tops of the trees where flowering buds are getting ready for their spring debut and butterflys dart in and out.

Which brings me back to the lyrics of my favorite song . . . "The Rose."

A giant cactus plant, grown from seed, not occupies space adjacent to Cin's Rose Garden. In a previous post I compared the cactus and the rose. While a rose is soft and gentle on the outside and firm and solid on the inside, the cactus is hard and prickly on the outside and soft and mushy on the inside.

The last stanza takes on new meaning.

Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows . . .

Lies the seed (I'm the seed)
That with the sun's love (the sun/son is Jesus)
In the spring (Now is the spring)
Becomes the rose (I am becoming the rose/cactus)

Fortunately, the sun/son shines equally on roses and cacti. While I want my life to stem from firm inner convictions and show a soft, gentle appearance, I know that sometimes my prickly exterior often belies a mushy interior all too ready to compromise. Fortunately the SON understands this.