Looking In the Window: My Mysterious Rose

I immediately added clean water and the preservative that came with my flower to the rose my husband gave me on Valentine’s Day. But the next day, February 15th, the stem drooped an inch below its bloom. That afternoon the sun shone through the sliding glass door the brightest I’d seen since early December. But the rose sat there, it’s pretty head tilted down toward the table.

Wednesday morning I walked in the kitchen to find the rose straight again. Not quite believing it, I leaned down and studied the flower. I checked it later that afternoon. And another time early in the evening. It wasn’t my imagination. It’s five days later, and the rose stands straight on its stem, its petals just beginning to age a tiny bit on the edge, otherwise intact.

I’d never seen a flower do that, but I’m no horticulturist, so I thought maybe some varieties of roses perk up once the recipient adds the preservative. Even so, that wouldn’t explain why it wilted the day after I added it. My curiosity wouldn’t rest, so I asked several friends who are more knowledgeable about flowers than I am. They couldn’t explain it. Finally I called Carithers Flowers, a well known, popular florist in Georgia, and spoke with Ashley. She could see no reason why the rose rallied either. She’s never had anyone else call and tell her of such an incidence.

Maybe I wasn’t meant to understand the rose, but simply to enjoy it.

Sometimes I feel like the sagging rose looked until I see someone who says something that makes me laugh, or gives me a friendly smile that warms my heart. God’s love shining through them the way the sun filtered through my blinds lifts my spirits and makes me stand up straight.
John 13: 34-35, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.