Archives at Zinester: "How sad the dying rose". "I Believe in You!".

Subject: "How sad the dying rose" - August25, 2006

"I Believe in You!"

A message of Hope, stories from the road.

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Hello, my friend!

Make it a great weekend!

Love always and all ways

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Perks Pearl of Wisdom

"Do not morn the dying rose. Be grateful for it ever having bloomed at all."

Bob Perks

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Today's Message:

"How sad the dying rose"

It seems a shame, indeed.

I feel it an obligation on my part to, as the old saying goes,

"stop and smell the roses." Its meaning, simply put, is for us to

take time to enjoy life. For me, it literally means to stop and smell

the roses in my garden. Or anywhere else I should find them. It is my way

Lately, my flower garden has been neglected. It is my fault for I have

not only ignored the beauty there, but I have been struggling to "see"

the beauty in my own life.

Yesterday I wandered past the gate into the garden and found myself

apologizing to the flowers there.

Feeling somewhat foolish, a rare emotion for me, I bent over and touched

a daisy. Holding it between my fingers, I said "thank you." Then, walking slow

and deliberately, I scanned the rest. Running my hand across the tops of dozens

of yellow and white bursts of sunshine, they appeared to smile back at

Halfway through, I came across the roses.

Still producing new buds for future enjoyment, I saw among the thorns and newly

awakened beauty, one rose giving up its time and energy to the rest.

Its head slumped forward, petals now limp, the flower of God's own making, looked

exhausted from the journey. Having given its all, stretching toward the sun and

gladly opening to the full possibilities that came with each day, the rose gave in.

I carefully reached beyond the thorny branches to touch my fallen friend. As I did,

the heart-shaped petals fell into my hand.

I held them gently and carefully retreated from the bush.

Selecting one single petal, I stroked it between my thumb and index finger.

I know that feeling. It always somehow reminds me of touching the hair of a newborn

child. Moving the petal closer, I place it against my lips and I remember kissing

my own children on the "soft spot" of their heads always thanking God for the miracle

"How sad the dying rose." I said out loud.

Then that Voice within me spoke echoing old familiar words.

"Sadder still, is a rose that never blossomed at all."

I knew immediately the lesson here.

One does not fail for having tried and no one noticed. Failure, like the unborn rose,

is in never having bloomed at all.

For roses bloom in fields far from sight still fulfilling the covenant made between the Creator

If you are feeling lost and unfulfilled, push on to bloom to your full potential. For if the Master

Gardener put so much beauty in the rose, imagine what lies within you.

"Do not morn the dying rose. Be grateful for it ever having bloomed at all."

"I believe in You!"

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Your Comments... If you would like to share brief comment

about today's message, please write to Bob@BobPerks.com

I will use only first names and no email addresses.

Dear Bob,

You did a wonderful job of describing me! No, I don't write stories,

I write poetry, but it's the same concept. I see those little flickering lights you

described under the covers. I too have visions of people and places.

I see the dead people, dead to so many important lessons that life wants

to teach. I am so over come by some of the things I see, and when I can't

contain it any more, I just put it into poetry. To be very honest with you, when

I go back and read some of the poems, I have to ask myself, "did I write that",

I feel like I was in a place where I was just moving my fingers, but someone

was talking to me as I wrote. Guess "It's God Talk".

Be Blessed!

Jeanette

Dear Bob,

I love words, and how they are said, 'It's not what you say, It's

how you say it "I quote this to my children daily, I also quote,

Walk In Their Shoes.

I have believed this or so I thought most of my life, Until One

cold winter day back in 1988. My oldest daughter Jeaninne

had been in and out of the hospital most of her 4 years by then,

On that cold night, Jeaninne had started bleeding from with in,

I was calling everyone I could for help, Just then, My husband

Pat came up the driveway, I ran out of the house with my child

wrapped in a towel, still bleeding from the mouth, Drove so fast

to the children's hospital in Pgh, in doing so, he passed many

people alone the way, at on point, we were behind a car and there

were cars in the lane next to us, my husband with his 4ways on

and high beams too, was beeping to ask people to get out of the

way, one man got out of his car with gun in hand, he told my

husband he will move when he is good and ready, I looked this

man in his face and said to him, Mister. you must walk in our shoes,

our daughter is dying in my arms, God is asking you to please move

on so we can help this child, This man ran back to his car and

at the next street he made a turn,

Our daughter almost lost her life that night, but God was not ready

for her, I think him for that everyday,

I tell that story to anyone I see with road rage, If they are not having

a problem, don't give them one, Just try to walk in someone's shoes,

things are not always as they seem

I look forward to your e mails, they brighten my day,

God bless

Bob,

I used to get those little flickers of light just before

I sat down to write a poem. I'd be walking somewhere,

past something, and BOOM in my head a single line to a

poem that would stay with me til I wrote the poem. I'd spend

hours writing, it was my release, but also my hidey hole

from the world. I'd get lost in my world of words, and nothing

mattered so long as I had a pen in my hand. When I was really

sick my social worker who had known me from the first time she

helped me thru a flare, said to me "Selena last time you were

sick you wrote the entire time... I havent seen a pen even near you..."

she had really sad eyes as she told me... then she said "when you

have a pen back in your hand... I'll know youre ok". I got the pen back

in my hand, and my face resumed lighting up anytime someone

mentioned writing. I threw myself into working with illiterate adults...

hoping to instill the passion I had about writing. Then something happened...

I got "writers block" that went from a few days... to now over a year. I sat here

reading your story and it got me thinking as to why this is so... why

when I sit here to write... nothing comes out... and its quite simple...

and I thank you for showing me... I simply stopped looking.

Sending you cooling kiwi air!

Love and Light,

Lena

Hello,

I enjoy your thoughts and lightening bolt stories very
much.

I have my own God Talk. It is strange how when I
finally trust in him for what ever challenge I face
that day a penny, or a nickel, or a dime will appear
on the ground. I always pick it up and remember to
remind myself, "In God We Trust!"

This has always come at a time when I have really
truly faithfully let go, and leaned wholeheartedly on
God for my next moment. A solution will come into my
life for whatever the current difficult circumstance
was that I was facing. After the solution becomes
evident, there will be a penny. Or as I said before, a
nickel or a dime. One day there were four pennies.
That was the day that I avoided being broadsided by a
whisper. These pennies appear out of nowhere. Places
where pennies aren't used, and places where pennies
were not present on paths I crossed day in and day
out. Pennies from heaven! In God We Trust

That is one of my stories. I also have many. I am very
lucky to have the moments I have in my life to
experience so much.

Thank you for your stories.
I enjoy them very much.

Side note:
For the last month, my refrigerator was "running". All
day long, causing my electric bill to be much higher
than usual. Since I was in a new apartment, I was not
sure it was wrong, until the electric bill arrived. It
has now been fixed, and it is very quiet!(smile) The
joke, "Is your refrigerator running?" kept going
through my head, and then your story appeared. I
enjoyed it very much. Thank you.

Best Regards,
Sandi

Hi Bob,

Thanks for your story today - you are so right!!!

The only way that we really do our 'work' here is to

be the best example of a human angel that we can

be on the day. That's my goal and I love that vision.

Keep going, you're doing great work.

With love from another great example, LINDA

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"I wish you enough!"
Bob

Bob Perks is a professional speaker, author and vocalist.
Member National Speakers Association.
Visit http://www.BobPerks.com

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"I wish you enough!"
written by Bob Perks (c) 2001

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."