Stop and Smell the Roses

I long for thornless roses

with days of lingering peace

where trials are no longer present

for they have bid defeat

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But if I stop and smell the roses

that bloom between the thorns

I find within these pauses

my strength’s fully restored

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And in my arbor of roses

I’ve noticed a thing or two

 the roses without thorns

aren’t as sweet, aren’t as true.

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Wendy ❀ 2015

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The flower cluster pictured above

is from a rose I thought was wild.

Its thorny branches appeared within a perennial border

alongside my potting shed,

despite my efforts to remove it.

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The same thing happened with the one in this picture.

This is a wild rose and not quite as fragrant as the other one.

My attempts to eradicate them failed.

And I’m glad.

If it wasn’t for my busyness with writing

these two roses would never have had the chance to bloom,

and I would never have known their loveliness.

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Life happens

regardless of our attempts to pull or prune out what we think is undesirable.

But I’m slowly learning that the thorny things,

the so-called weeds,

are creating something beautiful

in my heart and life.

And when I stop to smell the roses,

or focus on beauty,

my batteries get recharged.

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Stay calm.

Stay the course.

Stay on your knees.

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Have you ever had something beautiful (in disguise)

show up unexpectedly in your garden or life?

Do you enjoy stopping to smell the roses?

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Sweet and True Blessings ~ Wendy ❀

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Here’s a 4 minute vlog about today’s topic.

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