I have had a super busy month or six weeks. I’ve had things to accomplish at home and at work and sometimes they overlapped. I’m still not out of the woods yet, there’s still lots to do, but yesterday I took a break from everything.

A friend at church mentioned that she had gone to the rose garden in Longmont and had enjoyed her time there. Without a moment’s hesitation, I decided that’s where I would head after church. I grabbed a bite to eat and took it to this precious gem of our local city. And I savored the sights and sounds and scents of this little park.

I walked each path and took in the beauty of these roses. It was obvious that it is the end of the season, but was amazed at the beauty that these blossoms still contained. Even in their last stages of life, some of these roses were so beautifully different from when they were a young bud. They showed experience and wear and tear. They had endured the elements of the world and had survived.

I was also amazed at the variety. I’m usually drawn to yellow roses, but I couldn’t help but take in the different colors of coral roses out there. They were beautiful! And then there are the roses that have definitely been genetically altered with their cool stripes. And they were so different from one another. Some had lots of petals that spread out while others were more traditional looking and very sleek. Some of the plants were bushy with thin stems while others had sturdier, straight stems.

I was a bit surprised to find that many of these roses didn’t smell like anything. They were beautiful, but they had lost every bit of their scent. I don’t know if it’s because of the genetic stuff, but they were lacking what roses are supposed to have. A rosy scent! And then, oh, I’d get a whiff of that scent. I thoroughly enjoyed those moments.

This garden is a memorial garden, so there are benches and trees and war memorials all around the garden with such sayings as, “Blossomed on earth to bloom in heaven” or “Like a rose you were beautiful in life and people around you blossomed.” What a legacy these people left.

And then, after my long walk, I sat. In the garden. With my Jesus. I sang to Him. I prayed to Him. I listened to Him. And I walked away from my time in the garden refreshed and rejuvenated. I might have to go by that special place more frequently.

So here are a few lessons I learned while walking through the rose garden:

• Even if you’re entering the “last season” of life, you can still encourage and share your Christ-like beauty with others
• Bloom. Regardless of what’s going on around you.
• Don’t allow the world to take away your “scent.”
• No need to be like someone else (unless it’s like Christ). You are uniquely and beautifully made.
• Leave a legacy.

The obvious hymn came to mind… “In the Garden,” but the one I landed on was “Jesus, Rose of Sharon.” It isn’t a hymn that we sang…at least, I don’t remember ever singing this hymn. But the lyrics and the beauty of the melody helped me as I spent these precious moments with Jesus. I pray you’ll find some encouragement from this song as well.

“Jesus, Rose of Sharon”[i]

Jesus, Rose of Sharon, bloom within my heart;
Beauties of Thy truth and holiness impart,
That where’er I go my life may shed abroad
Fragrance of the knowledge of the love of God.

Jesus, Rose of Sharon, sweeter far to see
Than the fairest flow’rs of earth could ever be,
Fill my life completely, adding more each day
Of Thy grace divine and purity, I pray.

Jesus, Rose of Sharon, balm for ev’ry ill,
May Thy tender mercy’s healing power distil
For afflicted souls of weary burdened men,
Giving needy mortals health and hope again.

Jesus, Rose of Sharon, bloom forevermore;
Be Thy glory seen on earth from shore to shore,
Till the nations own Thy sov’reignty complete,
Lay their honors down and worship at Thy feet.

Refrain

Jesus, blessèd Jesus, Rose of Sharon,
Bloom in radiance and in love within my heart.

Click here to listen to this beautiful hymn.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

[i] “Jesus, Rose of Sharon,” words by Ida A. Guirey, music by Charles H. Gabriel, 1922.