The bouquet of thorns
It was the eve of Thanksgiving, but Sandra was feeling very unhappy when she walked into a flower shop. Her son would have been born these days if she hadn’t lost him in a car accident… she was very sorry for the loss of her.
Not enough that, there was still the possibility that her husband would be operated. And to make matters worse, her sister canceled the visit that she was going to make soon.
Thanksgiving? Thank what? she wondered.
A friend had the courage to say that suffering was a gift from God, that it matured and strengthened…
His thoughts were interrupted by the saleswoman, saying:
– Do you want a traditional arrangement or would you like to innovate with what I call “Special”? Looking for something to really show gratitude on Thanksgiving?
Sandra explained that she had nothing to be thankful for and the other replied emphatically:
– Well, I have the perfect arrangement for you!
At that moment a customer entered who came to get her order:
An arrangement of long, spiny rose stems. All very well arranged, but there was no flower.
Sandra wondered why someone would pay for rose stems without flowers.
– This is the “Special”, I call it “Thanksgiving Bouquet of Thorns” – explained the saleswoman.
– But what led her to create the bouquet of thorns? Sandra asked.
– I learned to be grateful for the thorns… I always thanked God for the good things in my life and I never asked him why those good things happened.
But when the adversities came, I cried and shouted: why? because I?
Over time I learned that difficult times are important for our faith and our strength. In the face of difficulties, we approach God and value life and the good times of him.
Sandra remembered what her friend had told her, and exclaimed: – I lost my baby and I’m angry with God…
At that moment a man entered the flower shop, also looking for a bouquet of thorny stems.
Is this for your wife? Sandra asked incredulously. But why does she want a corsage like that?
My wife and I almost got divorced, but with the grace of God, we faced problem after problem and saved our marriage. The special corsage reminds us of the “thorny” times. We label each stem with one of the problems solved and give thanks for what He taught us. I recommend the special corsage!
– I don’t know if I can be grateful for the thorns in my life. It’s all so recent…
The saleswoman replied, affectionately:
– Experience has shown me that thorns make roses more precious. We appreciate God’s providential care more during trouble than at any other time.
Several tears slid down Sandra’s face.
– I’ll take a dozen of these long, thorny stems, please. How much do I owe you?
Any. Nothing if he promises me that he will allow God to heal his heart. The first corsage is always on me.
The saleswoman smiled and handed Sandra a card.
I’ll put this card in your corsage, but you may want to read it first.
-And Sandra read: “Lord, I never thanked my thorns. I thanked a thousand times the roses, but never the thorns. Teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow are much brighter.” .”
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