ONE ROSE

(If we only saw a field of flowers stretching out in a hundred rows

We may never truly appreciate the beauty of one rose.)

When I look at the life Deborah and I have had…

to this fact I must attest

With 3 children and 4 grandchildren…

we have both been blessed.

We have been extremely lucky as we’ve watched them grow

to realize how together they set our world aglow.

But we also love to take a moment…on this we both agree

to stop what we are doing…

and think of each one separately.

(If a crowded forest is the only view our eyes will ever see

we may never know the beauty of that solitary tree.)

So periodically we take a moment to look at each child individually

to savor the beauty that is growing on our own family tree.

(If only in the harmony of a choir we rejoice

we may never know the beauty of that one distinctive voice.)

We think back to a time long ago when they were babies…

when they sucked their thumb

and then we look today at the person they’ve become.

We find when we take the time to look at each one individually

we are pleasantly surprised…at what we hear and see.

It seems remembering each child independently 

gives us a moment to rejoice

and listen to the beauty we hear in a single voice.

When we take the time to remember each child individually

is when we discover the beauty and the wonder of that single tree….

Yes, looking at a single child…through their triumphs and their woes

is when we truly appreciate…the beauty of one rose.