Pen & Sword
by Minister Pamela Farrar

The Valley of Roses
(Hebrews 11:1)

In the valley of roses
       where beauty enchanted the heart
Roses bloom the fragrance of love
       as their colors made visions of art

Admirers came from far and near
       just to get a glance
And if you listened you could hear
       the song of the wind as they danced

Except there was one rose
       that never bloomed like the others
So when he saw admirers arrive
       he would hide and stay undercover

The Lord watched this and asked the un bloomed rose,
"Why do you hide behind the petals of others
       instead of letting your beauty be known?"

The rosebud wept as he replied,
"I am embarrassed and ashamed
       of not being as pretty as the others
and as you can see I have yet to bloom
       so no beauty could ever come of me"

As He gently lifted the rosebud’s head the Lord said,
"You will never know what I have planned for you
       if you don't keep your faith
All that I create is beautiful
       but sometimes for blessings you must wait
So lift your head as high as you can
       and remember that I have special plans for you
And just because blessings are first given to others
       doesn't mean I left out you"

And so the rosebud stood up straight
       and proudly faced the sun
Remembering what the Lord had said
       that one day his blessing would come

Many days and nights went by
       but that rosebud never gave up
When he felt down he looked up in the sky
       and remembered his Savior's love

And then one glorious morning the rosebud bloomed
       into the most beautiful rose ever created
And all the other roses admired his beauty
       and wished that their blessing had waited

And by the thousands, people stood in line
       to see the one rose that stood out from the rest
And it was then when this rose remembered the time
       when he thought the Lord loved him less

So he said to the Lord,
"Thank you Lord, but there's one thing that I must know.
       Why was I the only one who struggled?
You could’ve easily let me bloom with the others,
       but instead you stunted my growth?"

And the Lord said,
"The path that you took was a choice
       that I had you make
It was a journey that brought you closer to me
       and it also tested your faith
Although others were blessed before you
       it didn't mean I loved you less
It was all part of my perfect plan
       the rose that was last to bloom in my valley
Would be the rose that I truly blessed.”

When up on the rooftop their arose a great clatter 
Maintenance went up to see what was the matter 
And what to their wondering eyes should appear 
Standing there were eight big buck white-tailed deer 

They jumped from the roof and down to the ground 
In the parking lot they playfully leaped around 
Each buck had a rack of twenty points or more 
For once supervisors did not mind keeping score 

Visions of trophy racks danced in each head 
Termination for the deer would mean they were dead 
Over the intercom came a voice, "It is twelve o' one 
Deer season now has officially begun" 

Out the door they all ran in a big hurried rush 
If someone had stumbled they'd have been trampled to mush 
Guns appeared from under seats and out of trunks 
From inside tool boxes and from under piles of junk 

The bucks were surrounded they had nowhere to go 
Probably about now they were wishing they were does 
A shot rang out and all the guns were ablazing 
If any buck survived it would be truly amazing 

A cloud of gun smoke settled over the parking lot 
When it cleared each supervisor would see what they got 
But when the smoke cleared not a deer could be found 
They were in shock when they began to look around 

Just then from the shadows came old St. Nick 
"I need deer that are brave, agile, and quick" 
Reindeer were fine when it was snowing and cold 
But with global warming I don't need them (besides they are old) 

With the threat of terrorists, gangs, and fearful homeowners 
I need to try out new deer.....these are just loaners 
In this test that I arranged they have done great 
But we must be getting on for it is getting late 

With a loud whistle and a whoosh the deer re-appeared 
Seeing them pulling Santa's sleigh everyone cheered 
He got in the seat and took hold of the reins 
And then began to call out each buck's name 

Now Avery, now Chapman, now Murray and Moore 
This is our first stop but we have many more 
On Boyd, on Dennington, on Grubbs and Lott 
Let's see how much power you deer have got 

In the twinkle of an eye and the flash of a smile 
They were up in the sky at least a half of a mile 
This story is true that is what I have been told 
Sitting around a campfire when the night is cold 

Swapping stories of almost, if only and should've 
Wishing I had done the things that I could've 
So if you shoot at a deer and completely miss 
Do not be upset with yourself just remember this 

In life you don't always get what you shoot for 
But do the right thing and GOD will open another door 

.....peace.....