Today is the first day of spring. Although the weather is certainly diverse in many parts of the US and abroad, there can be different signs of spring in the air. Our weather in the southwest has been spring-like for several weeks, (in fact, some may argue that is our entire winter). It’s given me the opportunity to spend more time gardening, which I love. I have numerous rose bushes in both my front and back yards. Several weeks ago, (at the polite encouragement of my next door neighbor, who is quite the rose virtuoso), I spent hours and hours pruning each of the rose bushes. My mom was an avid gardner and she had beautiful rose bushes that were a result of her vividly green thumb. In all honesty, even though I learned from her the importance of pruning rose bushes each year, I have not always done so. When I have not pruned them, the roses do continue to bloom. However, experts tell us that roses should be pruned in order to 1) encourage new growth and (more) blooms, 2) remove dead wood, 3) improve air circulation and 4) shape the plant.
After I trimmed each bush, they looked quite different, and even a bit frail.
I wondered in fact if I had pruned them too much or at the wrong time? I would just need to wait and see…
There is likely no other more beautiful flower than a perfect rose. For thousands of years it has held deep and special meaning. I learned that in 1986, the US adopted the rose as the national floral emblem. The rose is also the state flower of four US states. And here’s a staggering statistic I just know you couldn’t live without: On Valentines day, almost 200 million flowers are sold and delivered, 115 million of which are red roses.
As we know, however, one of the most beautiful flowers, that in many cases has an incredibly fragrant smell, is also lined with thorns. Thorns that I can attest first hand, will deeply and easily cut through any part of your skin that comes in contact with them. I was recently enlightened though, that roses actually do not have thorns, but prickles. (That made me chuckle). Roses are unique in having prickles. It’s been suggested that the reason for such an anomaly is that rose petals are sweet to the taste. (I just saw a recipe for sugared rose petals to put on a cake!) Originally animals loved to eat roses and the prickles (ok, I’m going back to thorns) and the thorns prevented them from doing so. God protected His rose creation.
As the familiar part of the Easter story is shared, we can’t forget the picture of a crown of thorns being placed on Jesus’ head. There is a two-fold symbolism about that act. The first one is that it was used to used to mock Jesus as the proclaimed “King of the Jews”. The second symbol and an extremely powerful one, is that Jesus, the Messiah King, suffered in our place. He is “King of Kings” and “Lord of Lords”.
When Jesus was crowned with a crown of thorns, His torturers unknowingly punished Him with a symbol fitting of the suffering Messiah. Though He suffered and died for the sins of people, we know and rejoice because He rose again, gloriously revealing Himself as the true King and Savior of the world.
Remember how I mentioned why we are supposed to prune roses? I ask you to take a few minutes and consider how we might need to be pruned ourselves? And how would we do so? I’d like to suggest that we too can find ways to “prune” our lives, our thinking and our priorities. In doing so, might we 1) encourage new growth and ways to bloom, 2) remove dead “wood”, 3) improve circulation (life-giving flow) and 4) shape ourselves (to be more Christ-like)?
I am very pleased to share with you, that each of my rose bushes have numerous new rose buds and should have an orchestra of beautiful roses in bloom just in time for Easter (or maybe a bit sooner). Yes, I allowed my faith in the process to waiver, but I was soon reminded (as I will be again, and again), that the process is to be wholeheartedly trusted. Just as Jesus our Lord is to be trusted… with abundant and unwavering faith – beyond measure.
Jesus is always with us in our struggles and temptations. Just as He went through His crown of thorns for our sake, He will help us go through ours. Keep the faith, believe and follow Jesus with all you’ve got and one day He will give you a new crown of life and righteousness.
Today, the song I would like to share that touches my heart is “At The Cross (Love Ran Red)” by Chris Tomlin. It’s a simple, yet emotional reminder of what the cross symbolizes for us. It is where we surrender our lives – where Jesus’ love “ran red” and ALL our sins are washed away. We owe it all to You Jesus.
At the cross, at the cross
I surrender my life
I’m in awe of You
I’m in awe of You
Where Your love ran red
And my sin washed white
I owe all to You
I owe all to You Jesus
If you’ve enjoyed the various songs I have shared with you, I am in the process of setting up a unique Spotify play list of those and other favorite songs. In a future post, I will share the title with you and invite you to access it along with me and others.