Rosalind's Rose

 

I believe in signs. Beautiful, wonderful signs. We call co-inky-dinks! Three days before I got the most horrible news of my life, I stopped by a nursery to look for the perfect rose to grow for Rosalind's wedding. She had said to me "Mom, wouldn't it be great if you could grow the roses for my wedding?!" Of course it would! I looked across a huge greenhouse, all the way to the back, one rose stood out. It almost called me to it. I walked over to it, looked at the name on the tag for future reference. She would have the final say. The name? "Pearly Gates". My dear friend Robin Guidry Hearn bought the climber for me when she came three weeks later. I've had these roses growing in my yard for the past eight years. Right around the anniversary of her death, they bloom like crazy! I pick a few and bring them to her grave, as any mother would do. It has seen many seasons, since. Luckily so have I. I never thought I would be able to lose a child. God's grace was sufficient unto my need. I learned to "choose" to see the beauty in the world. I also learned how to choose to be happy. I was forced to. The color at the end of the season, is the color of her cheeks. Seek and you will find.