Stop and Smell the Roses

Every week, my husband cuts a bright red rose for me from our rose bushes that grow in a mulch patch in our backyard. He never tells me he’s going to do it (although sometimes he holds a rose up for me to smell). He never draws attention to the little glass vase sitting unobtrusively on our kitchen island either. He simply cuts the stem, slides a new rose in, and displays it there—quietly, tenderly, nonchalantly—because he knows I like them. And then, he discards the ones that have expired.

So often, we want fanfare—in marriage, in parenthood, in other relationships, and equally in our relationship with God. We look for grand gestures like fireworks on the fourth of July or shiny balloons on our birthday. We forget that God picks metaphorical roses for us every day. He’s always doing little things to say, “I love you.” They’re just so familiar we’re quick to overlook them and take them for granted.

Perhaps today we might stop and smell the roses once again. Perhaps we might take a few moments to acknowledge all God has done, to thank God not just for the big things but for the small things He does to keep us safe, provide for our needs, and shower us with His goodness on a daily basis.

Psalm 145:9-10 tells us, “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you.”

Some days in this life are filled with excitement and fanfare, but most are not. Therefore, if we choose to see God’s goodness every day, we have a much better chance of building real intimacy, lasting joy, and unshakable trust. Then we, too, can be numbered among His “saints” who bless and give glory to God.