I have always loved the delicate beauty of roses.  Many years ago, I discovered knock out roses.  These tiny rose bushes quickly flourish into a beautiful blanket of amazing color when planted.  I initially planted them for pure aesthetics, but they have come to represent much more than just beauty to me.  The picture of life they illustrate has become a story of inspiration and encouragement.  In times of great struggle, I remember my rose bushes.  In times of great favor, I remember my rose bushes.

Knock out roses are hearty and require little to be fruitful.  The two things they require are a lot of light and consistent pruning.  They need harsh pruning in the winter to ensure with the dawn of spring they re-emerge bigger, more beautiful and plentiful.  After each season of pruning and subsequent maturation, they thrive and flourish so much that their growth can become uncontainable.  I often have to prune them in their most abundant times in order to form them in the image I want them to be.

When I look at these beautiful bushes, they remind me of how The Father molds and matures us, His children.  We cannot thrive in darkness.  It is only when we are living in the light of God’s word and walking in obedience that we may experience God’s optimal plan for our lives.

Also, much like rose bushes, in life we go through times of harsh pruning that are infused with opportunities that lead to deeper rooted growth and development.  Sometimes even in the midst of our greatest progress, we may require additional pruning by The Great Gardner who longs to mold us into His image. The encouraging thing is, like my rose bushes, we have the prospect to materialize each new season with stronger and deeper roots of faith.  Who would have thought such an authentic depiction of life could be mirrored in the growth cycle of a rose bush?