The Shattered Rose
A Mother's Meditation
by Mrs. Lorena Shiflet

It was only a shattered rose as it lay in my hand. But, oh, the lessons it taught me this morning. I thought back to its beginning. God caused it to be; first, a tiny bud so small it was hardly visible. Day-by-day it grew. Nothing contrary to nature entered the mother plant to mar the beauty of this rose. Not even an insect touched it from the outside, because it had a protective cover as it grew.

One day the beautiful color of this rosebud could be seen. But even then it could not have become a full-blown rose without the roots of the mother plant. Each day it showed a little more of its beauty until one day my rose had reached its peak. Then it was plucked and remained in all its beauty for a few days. After a while its beauty began to fade. The lovely petals began to wilt; then one day as I held it in my hands it shattered and was no longer a thing of beauty. Only its lovely scent lingered.

This rose taught me three important lessons. First, as the rose needed complete protection from its mother plant, so the baby needs a mother's protection and careful planning, even before birth, to keep harmful outside elements from entering her body to mar this little life within. We might apply I Timothy 5:14, "I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully."

Then, as the little bud came into view of the world, it still needed the protection and care of the mother plant; so little children need the guidance and careful attention of a mother to keep the outside "insects" of the world from marring their growth; both physically and spiritually; note II Timothy 1:5, "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in the, which dwelt first in thy grandmother, Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also." Of course, if the mother plant becomes blighted from outside elements, it will be reflected in the rose. So as a mother, I should watch for outside elements which could blight my spiritual life and be reflected in the three little "roses" God has given me.

At the peak of its beauty and perfection, this rose was plucked. There comes a time when the young "roses" in our home are ready to be plucked. Our prayers are that their lives may bring loveliness, pleasure and happiness to all who look upon them; that their beauty may not become marred by the influences of the world, but will continue to show forth their inner beauty until the end of their days. May their lives never become shattered before they have completed the work they were ordained by the Lord to do. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10.

The final lesson this rose taught me was that man's days on this earth are limited. The Scripture likens our length of time to that of a flower. "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." I Peter 1:24,25. As we grow older, our outward beauty begins to fade; then one day we will be no more. As only the sweet scent lingered will my life lived here on earth be a sweet-smelling reminder that Christ lived in me, and will I be remembered for the beauty of Christ that should have been seen in me? We reflect what is inside as Proverbs 23:7 reminds us "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he."

(Copyright 2003 - Robert J. Shiflet, Vera Shiflet Stilwell & Randall C. Shiflet)

(Editor's Note: Brother R.B. Shiflet, who writes a lesson for this space in the Timely Messenger each month, has asked that this month we run this article written by his wife, Lorena. We are happy to honor his request, and also we want to use this writing in honor of our very good friend, Lorena, who was a faithful servant of her Lord for many years. Now she is "Safe in the Arms of Jesus.")