As much as I love flowers and plants, the last thing I have is a green thumb. I have a hard time keeping plastic flowers alive, let alone anything living. So, when my wife had a landscaping project she wanted completed, my job was restricted solely to spreading the dirt and mulch.

She figures I can’t do any harm to dirt and I must say, the project turned out well. However, there was one exception, that being a rose bush that was already planted in this same area we were working on. The plan was to dig it up, finish the landscape remodel, and replant it.

I was in charge of this task! So, it should have been no surprise that a couple of weeks later, the rose bush expired.

I felt bad, but at least my consistent record was intact when it comes to gardening. Rather than dig it up and throw it out, my soon-to-be daughter-in-law recommended we leave it for a time just to make sure.

I tried to convince her that is was dead and needed to go but I followed her directions, thinking those horticulture classes weren’t doing her any good.

But miracles never cease. The other day, after a first frost had occurred, I wandered outside to finally get rid of the rose bush when much to my surprise a new red rose, glimmering in the morning sunlight, had grown through the middle of that dead looking plant. I couldn’t believe it. 

I ran to get my wife and show her that my dead plant streak had ended. I even took pictures to have proof. I was so proud.

I tell you that story to tell you this one. As that day wore on, I couldn’t help but think that the rose was a gift from the good Lord, showing me that perhaps when all hope is lost, new beginnings are possible.

I promptly named this flower, my “Rose of Hope.”  With the kind of year we have all had, a little hope can go a long way.

And it couldn’t have come at a better time, when we are all contemplating the Thanksgiving holiday. It is a time to count our blessings, even when we may think there are not many to count.

With the winter coming on quickly, I know my rose will fade away for a while, but now I have the knowledge and hope that it will emerge again when the warmth of spring reappears.

My mother used to tell me that as long as one has faith and hope, anything is possible. We may have to dig through a few dead rose bush shoots, but what we will find is worth the dig.

May we all find a “Rose of Hope” as we travel down the backroads.