Bmeandering

Bmeandering

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Joy --a story of a man and a rose bush.

Joy


I experience joy in the beauty of a single rose
radiating vibrant color
expressing a man's love
for ME.

My father loved roses.  We had a huge bush near the sidewalk in front of the parsonage.  The First United Methodist Church of one small town had a massive Victorian lady whose duty was to shelter the various ministers and families who graced her rooms.

I loved that parsonage and have many wonderful memories of our  years there.  One of those memories is of the rose bush.  One year the bush was so overladen with roses that my dad used string and attached scissors to the bush along with a sign urging passersby to clip off a bloom to take with them.
Joy

He loved sharing anything and everything with others. He was also a romantic.  Combine the two and you get a man who always had at least one rose bush from which he would cut a single bud and put in a vase to light up my mother's face when she came to the breakfast table. 
Joy. 

My daughter commented in my recent post about my rose bushes that roses always reminds her of Papa Roy---my amazing father who exuded joy--joy in Christ--joy in being alive--joy in family and friends--- just simple Joy.
My husband promised my dad he would take good care of me.  We were privileged to be able to say good-bye to dad.  He had his "moment" with each of us.  I'm not sure what all he told my husband, but on my birthday I can count on a beautiful arrangement of flowers with several glowing roses intertwined in the bouquet.
Joy. 


Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with Joy unspeakable and full of glory.
I Peter 1:8

For more on joy, check out http://www.bridgetchumbley.com/.

7 comments:

  1. This is the sweetest post! Thank you for sharing!

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  2. This brought tears to my eyes. He brought me a single rose when I had my accident.

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  3. This just touches my heart big time. What a precious man.

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  4. What a special story. Very touching and inspiring... thanks for sharing it!

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  5. I love roses and you shared such a meaningful, poignant post. Wow, I just realized that I will be crossing over to the other side of 55 in June. Not quite yet a grandmother, but anxiously awaiting and hoping. Nice meeting you!

    JoAnne

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  6. One December, God showered love on me in the simple act of a rose bush blooming in my yard. Even now, the thought of that rose brings a smile to my face and a knowing that God loves me. Your story reminded me. Thank you. :)

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  7. Finally had time to go through the "Joy" group, and it was/is terrific to run into you. YES, roses [and lilacs and gardenias, and, and, and... never enough flowers]. What a neat story and sweet story about your dad. Sounds like someone I would thoroughly have enjoyed!

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