The Rose flower is unarguably one of nature’s gifts to planet earth and indeed humanity for adornment. When set in flowery array, one cannot but marvel at what the Creator’s idea of beauty really is.
But
before we dwell so much on how beautiful and alluring this gift of nature is,
let me quickly note that the essence of this piece is not so much about its
tempting attractiveness of the Rose, but about something in its very nature
that one could say is a big dent on the total package of the Rose flower - the
thorn!
I am
not a horticulturist or a graduate of Agric Science, nor even so much a lover of nature, so I
cannot exactly say why roses have thorns, but they do.
However,
I will like you to think with me for a moment. We all know and agree that roses
are not man’s idea, they are God’s idea. And one thing majority of people can
agree on is the fact that God is too perfect to create an imperfect ‘thing’ –
He is too perfect to create the Rose with thorns and not have a reason for the
thorn in the life of the Rose flower.
I was
in meditation recently and received an inspiration, which goes thus: “Roses have thorns, but the thorns are not
strong enough to choke out the beauty of the Rose.”
This
thought was so strong in me and I began to think, how many people have
neglected their beauties because of ‘necessary’ thorns? How many people have
allowed challenges of life choke the beauty of life out of them? How many
people have focused so much on the thorns of life and lose sight of the beauty
thereof? Oh, how many have listened to wrong people and wrong counsel just
because of a thorn appearing by the side of the rose flower and they completely
ignored, neglected and totally abandoned the beautiful Rose – a relationship, a
job, a business, a family member, or possibly a country?
If
many people will take time to think and look deeply they will realize that it
is true that Roses have thorns, but equally true is that fact that those thorns
have roses on/in them.
I
challenge you if you are reading this, what are the roses in your life right
now that you are ignoring because of the thorns growing by the side?
By
the way, do you realize that the thorn is what forms the base in which the rose
flower seats and grows from?
Challenges
of life are real and they are sometimes necessary to bring out the best in you,
in your relationship and other areas of your life.
Life
doesn’t always follow a straight line where everything is in a state of utopia
– no worries, no challenges, no oppositions (Someone rightly noted that your
opposition is what will determine your position in life), sometimes, it is a
zig-zag.
Challenges
are like lifting weight, they help you build muscle and make you strong. You
build faith, emotional, psychological, intellectual and relational muscles.
The
question I want to ask you is, are you going to ignore this beautiful Rose
flower that God has given you because of the thorns or you are going to ignore
the thorns and focus on the Rose, savour its beauty and bask in its glory,
because this Rose will blossom?
Thank
you for reading. I hope you were inspired, motivated, encouraged or challenged?
Abiodun Mabadeje (MSA), Author/Actor/Speaker/Trainer/Publisher
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Abiodunmsa/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
twitter: @AbiodunMabadeje
