It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design,
But I can't unfold the petals,
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The way of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I,
The flower God opens sweetly
In my hands would surely die.

If I can't unfold a rosebud,
this flower of God's design -
Then how can I have wisdom
to unfold this life of mine?

So I will trust him to lead me
Each moment of every day,
And I'll ask him to guide me
Each step of the way.

For the pathway before me
My heavenly Father knows,
And I'll trust him to unfold it
Just as He unfolds the rose.

- Author unknown

~~Each of us touch each other's lives
And each of us grow from how we have
been touched...although it always
is not good, we can use it to help us
learn and grow.

I always see the staff of life as a rose.
The base is thick,strong,sturdy and along
it there is pain,but at the top is soft
delicate beauty. Each petal so close to the
nest they blend together and blossom in joy.

Some roses have thin,weak bases and more
thorns than others. Some never blossom and
show their joy of life or pain which is part
of life...they die not ever opening.

Each of us gives, takes and learns from each
other. Even friends give us thorns once in awhile.
But as long as we use the pain to learn from and
add it to our staff to make it stronger; we can
turn it around and find another petal on our rose.

When a full blossomed rose dies, it doesn't lean
over limply and fall to the ground. It explodes
with JOY! The petals fly everywhere. Each friend
and loved one doesn't lose that person but a petal
comes from their rose to yours, to add to the
beauty of your life... Your soul you can feel,
glows warmer and brighter.

If you look you'll see the smallest thorn growing.
Remember it will stop hurting when it stops growing
and you let it become a part of the learning and
and strength of the staff of your rose.

THEN YOU'LL NOTICE THE PETAL THAT WAS LEFT YOU BY
A FRIEND.~~

~~Annette Wilson~~
In memory of her father-inlaw
1985

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Evnstar,*****