A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully,

and before it blossomed,  he examined it.

He saw the bud that would soom bloom,

but noticed thorns upon the stem and he thought,

" How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened

with so many sharp thorns?"

Saddened by his thought,

he neglected to water the rose,

and before it was ready to bloom, it died.

So it is with many people.

Within every soul there is a rose.

The God like qualities planted in us at birth

growing amid the thorns of our faults.

Many of us look at ourselves

and see only the thorns the defects.

We despair,

thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us.

We neglect to water the good within us,

and eventually it dies.

We never realize our potential.

Some people do not see the rose within themselves;

someone else must show it to them.

One of the greatest gifts

a person can possess is to be able to reach past the thorns

and find the rose within others.

This is the characteristic of love...

to look at a person and know their true faults.

Accepting that person into your life,

while recognizing the nobility in their soul.

Help them to realize that they can overcome their faults.

If we show them the rose,

the will conquer their thorns.

Only then will they blossom many times over.

(Author Unknown)

(Author Unknown)

^{Jenny was so happy about the house they had found.}

^{For once in her life 'twas on the right side of town.}

^{She unpacked her things with such great ease.}

^{As she watched her new curtains blow in the breeze.}

^{How wonderful it was to have her own room.}

^{School would be starting, she'd have friends over soon.}

^{There'd be sleep-overs, and parties; she was so happy}

^{It's just the way she wanted her life to be.}

^{On the first day of school, everything went great.}

^{She made new friends and even got a date!}

^{She thought, "I want to be popular and I'm going to be,}

^{Because I just got a date with the star of the team!"}

^{To be known in this school you had to have a clout,}

^{And dating this guy would sure help her out.}

^{There was only one problem stopping her fate.}

^{Her parents had said she was too young to date.}

^{"Well, I just won't tell them the entire truth.}

^{They won't know the difference; what's there to lose?"}

^{Jenny asked to stay with her friends that night.}

^{Her parents frowned but said, "All right."}

^{Excited, she got ready for the big event}

^{But as she rushed around like she had no sense,}

^{She began to feel guilty about all the lies,}

^{But what's a pizza, a party, and a moonlight ride?}

^{Well the pizza was good, and the party was great,}

^{But the moonlight ride would have to wait.}

^{For Jeff was half drunk by this time.}

^{But he kissed her and said that he was just fine.}

^{Then the room filled with smoke and Jeff took a puff.}

^{Jenny couldn't believe he was smoking that stuff.}

^{Now Jeff was ready to ride to the point}

^{But only after he'd smoked another joint.}

^{They jumped in the car for the moonlight ride,}

^{Not thinking that he was too drunk to drive.}

^{They finally made it to the point at last,}

^{And Jeff started trying to make a pass.}

^{A pass is not what Jenny wanted at all}

^{(and by a pass, I dont mean playing football).}

^{"Perhaps my parents were right....maybe I am too young.}

^{Boy, how could I ever, ever be so dumb."}

^{With all of her might, she pushed Jeff away:}

^{"Please take me home, I dont want to stay."}

^{Jeff cranked up the engine and floored the gas.}

^{In a matter of seconds they were going too fast.}

^{As Jeff drove on in a fit of wild anger,}

^{Jenny knew that her life was in danger.}

^{She begged and pleaded for him to slow down,}

^{But he just got faster as they neared the town.}

^{"Just let me get home! I'll confess that I lied.}

^{I really went out for a moonlight ride."}

^{Then all of a sudden, she saw a big flash.}

^{"Oh God, Please help us! We're going to crash!"}

^{She doesn't remember the force of impact.}

^{Just that everything all of a sudden went black.}

^{She felt someone remove her from the twisted rubble,}

^{And heard, "Call an ambulance! These kids are in trouble!"}

^{Voices she heard...a few words at best.}

^{But she knew there were two cars involved in the wreck.}

^{Then wondered to herself if Jeff was all right,}

^{And if the people in the other car were alive.}

^{She awoke in the hospital to faces so sad.}

^{"You've been in a wreck and it looks pretty bad."}

^{These voices echoed inside her head,}

^{As they gently told her that Jeff was dead.}

^{They said "Jenny, we've done all we can do.}

^{But it looks as if we'll lose you too."}

^{"But the people in the other car!?" Jenny cried.}

^{"We're sorry, Jenny, they also died."}

^{Jenny prayed, "God, forgive me for what I've done}

^{I only wanted to have just one night of fun."}

^{"Tell those people's family, I've made their lives dim,}

^{And wish I could return their families to them."}

^{"Tell Mom and Dad I'm sorry I lied,}

^{And that it's my fault so many have died.}

^{Oh, nurse, won't you please tell them that for me?"}

^{The nurse just stood there ~ she never agreed.}

^{But took Jenny's hand with tears in her eyes}

^{And a few moments later Jenny died.}

^{A man asked the nurse, "Why didn't you do your best}

^{To bid that girl her one last request?"}

^{She looked at the man with eyes oh so sad.}

^{"Because the people in the other car were her mom and dad."}

^{This story is sad and unpleasant but true,}

^{So young people take heed, it could have been you.}

^{One Rose For My Hair}

^{Should you find my heart is pining}

^{and I'm sinking to despair}

^{should you feel the need to cheer me}

^{bring me one rose for my hair-}

^{There is magic in its beauty}

^{like nothing can compare}

^{to uplift your fallen image}

^{like a rose pinned in your hair.}

^{When we're feeling great frustration}

^{and overcome with care}

^{can't find an explanation}

^{for burdens we must bear.}

^{It only takes one moment}

^{of the time we have to spare}

^{to find one lovely rose}

^{to pin in some ones hair.}

by Vera Verdum

 

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