An Indescribable Gift!

"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift" (II Corinthians 9:15). What IS this gift that's such that we cannot describe it? You mean, it's beyond beautiful and precious and wonderful? Can it be that it is beyond even...PERFECT?? More wonderful yet, is that it is a gift! A gift is something that is freely given. No payment, no strings attached, you don't even have to deserve it. You just accept it and it's yours. This gift is Jesus Christ. And all wrapped up in Him is His love and salvation for us-the most beautiful and perfect gift ever. Oh wait, that doesn't fully describe it...it's unspeakable and indescribable! What a beautiful gift for us to receive this Christmas! So, how do I receive it? By faith. By believing on Him. By trusting Him, that what He says is true, that what He promises will come to pass. He said believe in Him and He will save us (Acts 16:31). Forever. It's as simple as that. What a...gift!

Love Measures Grief

This title and photo really need no explanation. Someone else has aptly described it as "Love much, grieve much. Love little, grieve little." One's amount and intensity of grief is measured by one's amount and intensity of love. And vice versa. Those who have experienced this know what I am talking about. As the perfect rose with raindrops, love with grief and tears is also beautiful. Love and pain, sunshine and rain, loss and gain...they are all inseparable twins of life. Each one is measured by the other, each one is nourished by the other, each one is necessary in our human lives. Without them we would not grow, without them we would not know...the pure joys of life that God, in His perfect plan for us, gives on a daily basis. Thank the Lord, there is life after grief, no matter the amount or intensity. There is love after grief for true love never leaves us. Love can be resurrected for love has life. Love IS life! God is love and God is life. God, life, love...they all go hand in hand. For this I am very grateful.

A 16-yr-old Rose

This year marks 16 years since a special pink rose bloomed into my life-that of my closest friend. It is an unusual friendship, unlike any I've had before or since. Words cannot describe how amazed and grateful I am over having received this gift...and that I still have it! Some friends are "of the road" and are only in our lives for a limited time. Some are surface ones or fun ones or helpful ones. But this one goes above and beyond all of these.Thank you, my lasting always, 2-4 friend!

My Sunshine Roses!

In 2002 we were blessed with the arrival of our first grandchild-a boy! Thus began a most interesting and enjoyable phase of life. Currently-as in, as I write this :)-we have 6 (oops, now it's 7...AND now it's 8!) of these precious perfect gifts...and 1 more on the way, to boot! Oh, my heart will burst with all this joy someday!

When I was going through chemo a couple years ago, some of our grandkids would stop by with their moms (our daughters) to visit for a few minutes. Even though I was feeling rather raunchy on many of those occasions, to me it was like a lovely, comforting ray of sunshine to see their smiling faces-maybe because I knew they were pretty much oblivious to what was really going on. Their innocence of my situation just made them seem more precious. Oh, how I love each one of them. They are perfect gifts...to us as well as to their parents. May the Lord protect each one of them from the evil influences of the world around them, maintaining their innocence,beauty and purity as the roses that they represent!

Masculine Roses

The next logical pink roses on my list would be my sons-in-law...except I am going to choose another color that's a bit more masculine. For, after all, "pink" in this case can really be any color. We were so happy and relieved when the last perfect rose came along to capture the hearts of our daughters! They are Christians, they are perfect matches (ohhh yes!) for each of them, and are proving themselves to be wonderful husbands and fathers. Thank You, Lord, for these roses that are part of the beautiful bouquet of my life! (photo: C. Dennis)

My Children

My pride and joy are my children! Although they aren't perfect, since no one on earth is perfect, they are certainly God's perfect gifts to me! I already mentioned how each rose is different but each is beautiful in its own way. Each one is unique! It goes without saying, that each of our children are different, each one has their own beauty. Some are serious & determined, others are happy-go-lucky and go-with-the-flow. Some make you cry, others make you laugh. But they all make this mother's heart beat with profound love and joy. I love you, my 5 precious children! My heart will forever beat with intense love and joy for each of you!

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is His reward." (Psalm 127:3)

Love

Before I go further, let me interject this thought: Love is certainly in the "top 5" of perfect gifts from God. For "God is love" as He says in His Word. The more I search the internet for this & that, the more I realize that love is sorely lacking in our world today. There are those who have twisted the meaning of this and are saying that murder is love. Can you believe that? I guess I've been a sheltered person all my life and haven't been exposed (thankfully!) to many people like this. God, the embodiment of love itself, will put these people in their place. Someday. Hopefully soon! How beautiful is the pink rose of love! How intricate its petals, how delicate its color, how fragrant its perfume, how beautiful its form! Even in the darkness of this sinful world around us, it shines, giving its unique and breath-taking beauty. Only God can create beauty, only He can show us true love...so that we, in turn, can show it to others. And, I guarantee, that does NOT include murder.

An Outstanding Rose

That would be my hubby. He is a God-given gift to me whose color shines in the light-or in the dark. For 35 years I have had this rose by my side and we have experienced SO much together. As I told him the other day, "life with you has been fun"! I haven't always cultivated this rose as it deserves to be and I've often taken it for granted but it is certainly among my prized ones...of award-winning quality. Thank you, my dear husband, for all that you mean to me! I admire you immensely and love you so much.

The Perfect Pair

The gift I mentioned in the previous post has to do with the most important Person in my life but there are several others that God, in His love, has enriched my life with. The first ones to come along (of course!) were my parents. I could write a huge book just about them and the blessing that they were to me. I say "were" because they aren't with me anymore. Mom & Dad passed away 4 and 2 years ago, respectively. Their example, dedication, love and constancy are all reasons for holding them in a special corner of my heart and I am SO thankful for them. I think of them so often, there are just so many things that remind me of them. It's so wonderful to know that one day I will be reunited with them in heaven. Perhaps there I'll be able to give them adequate thanks, something which never seems possible here on earth, don't you think so? Mom and Dad, I love you!

The Perfect Gift For Everyone

Pink roses are equal to perfect gifts and I would like to let you in on what mine are. You may have some of the same ones or yours may be totally different. God blesses each of us in different ways but at least one of these perfect gifts is the same for everyone who receives it: SALVATION through Jesus Christ. This gift became personally mine on August 19 many years ago when I was 13. I placed my faith in Christ to save me and I became His child. Peace, joy, forgiveness of sins, the certainty of a home in heaven, the companionship, help, friendship of my Lord...all of these things and more combine to make this the most perfect of all gifts!
"I know in Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day..." (IITimothy 1:12)

                                                                                    (cross photo: fotosearch.com)

Every Rose is Different

Although pink is obviously my favorite color of rose, I do, of course, love any color! Every color and every kind of every color has their own personality. To casual observers they may all seem the same. I mean, "a rose is a rose...", right? Umm, yes and no. They're the same in the sense that all the children in one family are the same. They look alike, they act alike, sometimes they even smell alike! But the parents, i.e., the ones that know them from birth and care for them, know that each one is different in his own way, each one has a distinct personality. What a blessing and gift this is, that our God, Who created us, knows us as no one else could possibly know. Not only does He know our personalities, He MADE our personalities. No one knows the creature like the creator does. I could go further into this...but I'll save that for a later "pink rose".

A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose...

There's nothing like a rose! No other flower is equal to it. Some have similar shapes but don't have the fragrance. Some have lovely fragrances but don't have the unique form and design. They all have their own unique beauty and "something different" but still...a rose is a rose is a rose. Everyone of our gifts from God is unique, there's just nothing like them. Only He can custom-make them to our own needs and tastes and desires. And He does this for EACH of His children. How wonderful is that? May we all join in singing "Praise God from whom all blessings flow"!

How My Pink Rose Was Born

Several years ago I began to notice, in a specific way, the details of pink roses...their delicate color, their fragrance and softness, their exquisite beauty. I just think it is the most perfect and beautiful of all of God's creation! Then it reminded me of the verse in James 1:17 that says that "every good and perfect gift" is from God and I decided that the pink rose would be my own symbol of all the good and perfect gifts God gives to me.