With a kiss on the forehead my Dad said goodbye and left me
at school. I stood where he had left me watching people getting out their cars
I noticed the sea of red that came with them. There were roses, lots of them, beautiful full
blown red roses. I hoped I was going to get one. I saw teddy bears of various
shapes and forms. I saw cards of many sizes. It was finally here, Valentine’s day
and I was going to be special to someone today.
I got to my class and saw other girls shriek when they found
something special in their Desk. The usual questions followed “who was the
secret admirer, who had left the rose for his love?” a boy in the background
secretly watching would normally smile and blush when he was noticed. He would
deny it of course, but everyone knew.
I lifted the lid on my desk slowly peeking inside to see if
there was anything. Nothing, I lifted the lid and felt my heart sink. Maybe he
needed more time. I made sure I stayed away from my classroom as much as
possible to give him time to do something, anything. Whenever I came to look
there was nothing. I waited in the passageways hoping he would come to me and
reveal himself. Still no-one came and nothing was revealed. I was beginning to
be disappointed. Was I not worth it? Did he not love me? He had promised and I knew
that he would keep his promise.
I stood waiting for my Mom to fetch me outside the school.
As I stood and watched I saw a sea of red leaving the school as people returned
home. My heart sank further and further the longer I stood waiting. It was not
long before I was standing alone. A tear was forming in my eye. I was sad and
heart broken. The tear ran down my face and then fell off towards the ground
and landed with a splat. As it landed the water began to disappear into the
dirt. That was when I saw it.
It was a red rose. The biggest I had ever seen. It was on a
rose bush in front of me. I was sure there had not been one there before. I
walked towards it and stopped. Another rose popped open in front of my eyes and
then another and another. The bush slowly turned red with roses as one by one
the buds came to life. I smiled as the strong smell of the roses filled the air.
He had given me many roses and he loved me more than I could imagine. I started
humming “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tell me so”.
As Valentine’s Day approaches don’t forget the greatest
lover of them all. For God so loved the world, he gave his son Jesus for each
and every one of us. This is by far the greatest gift anyone can give. Regardless
of how you feel about yourself or how you think others think of you. Know that Jesus
loved you enough to die for you on the cross. Stop for a moment and consider
the pain, humility, suffering, torture, ridicule that He bore on that day. Then
consider the joy, happiness, elation and sense of completion when he rose from
the grave. Here is Jesus, the rose of Sharon for you on Valentine’s Day.
Cheers
Greg