Love Beyond The Thorns

A rose is a universal symbol of love.  When they bloom, the petals are an array of magical colors and equally enchanting aromas!  When given to someone, they bring smiles as wide as the ocean and joy that can’t be contained!  Whether it’s a single long stem rose or a beautiful bouquet full of  dozens, the gesture of giving and receiving them will surely spark the feeling, emotion and ultimately, the act of love!  So you can imagine the perplexity I faced when speaking with a woman that was downright angry that her husband sent her roses.  She began to explain that as a child, she was fascinated at how big and pretty they were until one day she naively and carelessly went to pick one from a rose bush and the thorns sliced and cut into her hand.  As she screamed and cried, she struggled to understand how something so beautiful can cause so much pain.  From then on, she not only disliked roses but she was afraid of them and viewed them as a symbol of hurt and pain.  It got me to thinking that it was her approach to the rose bush (naively and carelessly) that was the source of her pain.  It’s because of that reason too that people are afraid of what the rose symbolizes and that’s LOVE!  Love, in and of itself, is the most beautiful gift that one can receive!   I argue that love is the most powerful source of strength one can possess!  There really is no limit to what love can do!  We get hurt though when we approach love naively and carelessly.  We “fall in love” with the people and things that represent the thorns of love and as a result, we get hurt and then turn around and blame love.  Love didn’t hurt you, it was your grabbing a hold of the “thorns” that hurt you.  You embracing something that means you nothing but harm will ALWAYS cause you pain.  What are the thorns of love that have or are currently hurting you right now?  It’s time to change your approach so that you can enjoy the fullness that love brings!  Florist handle roses all the time without getting pricked but they approach them carefully and with gloves on.  You don’t have to be afraid of the thorns of love anymore because God promises that He will be your protection from any damage they may bring.  A rose isn’t scary and neither is love when our approach is led by God!