Roses, beautiful roses, beds and beds of roses…in each direction you looked, in every color you can imagine, and any size to be found. What an incredible sight, to be soaked up and cherished by anyone and everyone. There were also more spectacular flowers that bordered the roses…if only I could remember their names.
Did you know that roses come in more than 300 species? Available in sizes ranging from miniature to climbing, and from hybrid tea to shrub roses.
As we took in the beauty and uniqueness of each rose, my friend, Susan, brought up a great analogy. When roses are young, just blooming and beginning to show their color, they are nourished by Mother Nature and the gardener with water and fertilizer, cutting away any dead leaves or stems, and then developing into a breathtaking flower. A blossom that adds color and beauty to someone’s garden, home, or office.
Susan and I began to talk about how that relates to women. When we are young, especially young mothers, we look to the older women, more experienced women, who share with us, mentor us, and become the women that we later become. Especially in this transient society we live in, moving away from family is almost always inevitable.
We started reminiscing about the day in May of 1985 when Don and I moved from Denver to Dallas, moving next door to Susan and her husband. Her son was only a couple of weeks old, and my oldest daughter was four months old. Neither of us had any family close, so we were learning to be mothers together, and what a blessing that was.
We are not meant to be trudging through this life alone – like a single stem in a bud vase. Although it is beautiful, more beauty is projected when more than one rose is gathered, supporting each other. We need to be mentors for other women, not just the younger women. We have an opportunity to help and assist each other in tackling these challenges that arise along life’s path.
Depending on its color and context, each rose carries a different meaning, representing everything from the joy of love to the pain of loss. And everyone at some point will feel those feelings.
The fragrance of a rose can trigger memories, evoking a specific place, time, or person in our lives. Many have shared that the rose reminds them of their grandmother, bringing back comforting and happy memories.
Roses can express deep emotions and feelings without words, revealing those secret sentiments through the gift of a rose, hoping that its silent beauty would communicate feelings. One special memory I will always cherish is the time when my mother passed away at home from cancer. When the mortuary arrived to take her body, they left a single red rose on her pillow. Nothing was more touching at that moment than that beautiful red rose for my lovely mother.
As I finish this blog post, I hope each of us will think about how we can assist the next generation, regardless of gender, in their journey through this challenging life. It is so important to be there to listen if others need to talk.
Have a blessed week!
All my best,
Julie
Throw Kindness Around Like Confetti