Theme for the week: Lessons from Roses
February 17, 2022 (Thursday)
Let me make clear that I am not promoting or even suggesting any kind of medicinal use of anything. I’m merely exploring the wonderful world of flowers, especially the rose. In the preparation of this blog, I discovered a world of uses for the rose, but I am not recommending it as medicine. This blog about roses is only for the purpose of encouraging ourselves to discover our own potential by learning lessons from roses.
Here’s what we’ve said so far about roses. They bring beauty to our world and emit a marvelous fragrance. They have had a positive influence in the world, and we can do that, too.
In what way can I be compared to a rose? Well, as far as the medicinal uses of the flower are concerned, I’m suggesting that we can offer encouragement to people in pain. Pain comes in many packages, but I’m primarily thinking of mental or emotional pain. Just as a rose can be handled in such a way that it becomes a medicine, so we Christians can help other people to deal with depression, anxiety, worry, despair, grief, etc. We can help people to focus on trusting the Lord by setting the example ourselves.
Just as the vase of beautiful roses by the bedside offers comfort and hope to the patient, so we can offer the same by the way that we live and the hope that we have in our own hearts.
As we live our faith day after day, we, like the rose, can help others to discover joy, peace, faith, hope and love — qualities of life that help to heal troubled souls.
Words and Music, Cleland B. McAfee
1903
There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God;
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God;
Hold us, who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God;
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain
There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God;
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain